Bosnia Herzegovina 0-1 Portugal (0-2 agg.)

The World Cup

Portugal have eased through to the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Bosnia for a 2-0 aggregate victory.

A goal from Raul Meireles midway through the second period was enough to secure their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The Portuguese came with a mission, knowing that one  away goal would compel the Bosnians to score three.

The Bosnian attack only occasionally showed glimpses of its capabilities, Miralem Pjanic looking active towards the break.

After the interval Zlatan Muslimovic was introduced for the hosts, but Portugal were more dangerous starting out.

They took the lead ten minutes after the restart, with Nani crossing for Meireles to tap home an easy finish.

Hopes of a home revival were dampened when Sejad Salihovic picked up a second booking for dissent, while the linesman seemed to be hit by a missle from the crowd.

The Bosnian side tried to come back in the last ten minutes of the game but the night belonged to Portugal.

It caps a fine comeback for Portugal, who were at one point in danger of finishing fourth in their group, but now become team 30 of 32 to head to South Africa.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Portugal’s 23-man squad to face Bosnia in the two-legged World Cup play-offs despite an ongoing ankle injury.

The forward has missed the last seven games for his club Real Madrid and is expected to be out of action for at least two more weeks.

But Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz hopes the ex-Manchester United star can play a part in the 14 and 18 November ties.

Ronaldo injured the ankle in September and aggravated it again in October.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Queiroz said on Friday he would call up the winger to help Portugal “even if just for a few minutes”.

But on Sunday, Real Madrid director general Jorge Valdano said that playing Ronaldo now would be a serious mistake.

“You have to remember that he injured himself again playing for Portugal and so he’s a long way from being a player who lacks commitment,” he said. “Perhaps it’s an excess of commitment (that) has put us in this situation. Making the same mistake again would be a great deal more serious.”

Valdano added that Real Madrid would be sending all the information on the injury to Portugal’s doctors on Monday.

Portugal, World Cup semi-finalists in 2006, play Bosnia in Lisbon and then Zenica four days later, with the winners qualifying for the 2010 finals in South Africa.