Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz says the World Cup NEEDS Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo. Queiroz, the former Manchester United assistant manager, and Ronaldo, his captain, must ensure victory over Hungary if Portugal are to stand a chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

Queiroz has been in these shoes before, failing to take Portugal to the European Championships in 1992 and the World Cup in 1994 in his first spell as manager, but to crash with the best player in the world in the passenger seat would be a particularly bitter end.

"If I could not get Cristiano to the World Cup, I would be full of regret," he told the Daily Mail.

"I do not agree with Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, that a World Cup without Ronaldo would not suffer.

"I am not saying we only deserve to be there for him, we must be there on merit, all of us, but it would be a pity if Ronaldo was not on this stage because he will create entertainment for the world."