Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/333851
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 JUNE 2014 50 50 Portugal are tired of media focus on Ronaldo PORTUGAL striker Helder Posti- ga said on Friday the squad were tired of the constant spotlight on Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese would not be in Brazil had it not been for Ro- naldo's brilliant four-goal salvo against Sweden in the play-offs, and Postiga said the media focus on the superstar takes its strain. Asked if the players were sick of Ronaldo questions, Postiga replied: "Yes, but if I am tired of hearing them every day then you can imagine how it is for him. I think the talk is too much. He has been training at maximum that is all there is to say." Postiga is set to come into the Portugal first team in the absence of the injured Hugo Almeida. He was also asked if he felt Ronaldo's ability to play through the middle might mean he loses his place to his long-time friend. He said: "It's true that Ronaldo can play in various positions. That is why he is such an important player for us. He can make the dif- ference." Ronaldo trained with strapping around his left leg, and Postiga said: "Ronaldo always finishes the training and then puts ice on but there are normally about 10 play- ers doing the same so it is nothing unusual." Portugal have seen seven players pick up injuries since arriving in Brazil. "I hope this gets better. These are things that happen especially when you have a long hard domes- tic season," he said. Speaking at Portugal's Campi- nas training base before the f light to Manaus later on Friday Postiga also spoke about the tropical con- ditions that await the team when they play the United States today. The striker, who spent the sec- ond half of the season on loan at Lazio, was asked if Portugal would train in the sauna as Italy had re- portedly done before their game against England last week. "We do spend time in the sauna sometimes so maybe we will do some training there too. The tem- perature has to be a secondary concern because we have to con- centrate on the game and on the USA. "We know what we did and didn't do in the first game but the com- petition is so short that you have to forget and move on. This game is decisive and we will do our best to not let the country down." After the United States, Portual face Ghana on Thursday in Brasil- ia. They have not faced two games of this importance since beating Sweden in qualification play-offs. "When we have these deci- sive games we always respond. I hope that it will be like the Swe- den matches. We need to show the same spirit that got us here," Postiga said. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo. Photo by EPA/JOSE SENA GOULAO Cameroon federation considers sanctions against violent players THE Cameroon Football Federation said on Friday it was investigating an incident of on-pitch violence during this week 's 0-4 loss to Croatia at the World Cup and might impose sanctions against its players. Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted team- mate Benjamin Moukandjo after an argu- ment, and striker Pierre Webo had to sepa- rate them. "The recent acts of violence that took place during the match against Croatia do NOT ref lect the values of FAIR PLAY and RESPECT as promoted by our federation, staff and national team as a group," the fed- eration, known as FECAFOOT, wrote on its website. Coach Volker Finke had described the in- cident as a "shame." "As expressed by our coach during his press conference after the match, it is im- portant that our team remains focused for its last game against Brazil," FECAFOOT added. "The mentioned disgraceful behaviour is being further investigated internally, and will be up for sanction if so judged by the mandated internal bodies," it wrote. The incident happened in the closing minutes of the match, as the players were showing signs of deep frustration. Cameroon also lost their first game 0-1 to Mexico and face Brazil on Monday to conclude a disappointing World Cup cam- paign Benjamin Moukandjo of Cameroon (L) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto of Cameroon argue during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group A preliminary round match between Cameroon and Croatia. Photo by EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN