MX23RW : Sunday, July 7 12:32:55| >> :600:1054511:1054511:
[monks data]
Portugal national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 16, 2012 at 8.45pm UK
 
Northern Ireland national football team

1-1

Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes: 'Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to peak'

Aaron Hughes believes that Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo could still get better as he prepares to mark the striker for Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes has admitted that he thinks Cristiano Ronaldo can still get better as he prepares to come up against the Portugal striker this week.

Ronaldo will win his 100th international cap against Michael O'Neill's side on Tuesday, searching for his 38th goal in Portugal colours.

Fulham centre-back Hughes has insisted that he is prepared to face the Real Madrid talisman and is well aware of the task at hand.

He told reporters: "I have played a handful of times against him but maybe he has gone another level since his days in the Premier League, and maybe he can go further.

"He has gone and become just as successful in Spain and maybe there's more to come from him. I don't think he has peaked, believe it or not. He is still going and appears to be getting better.

"The best players play at that level every single night whether it is the first game of the season, a windy night in November or the Champions League, it is just their way."

Ronaldo has 14 goals in just 11 club matches so far this season, including a brace at the Nou Camp in a memorable 2-2 draw against Barcelona.

ID:49892: cacheID:49892:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2323:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Michael O'Neill
Read Next:
Northern Ireland hit by injury crisis
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Tuesday, July 9
 
8pm
Semi-Finals
Spain
vs.
France
Wednesday, July 10
 
8pm
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!