Ronaldo training boosts Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo handed Portugal a huge boost on Saturday as he returned to training after leg injuries that had threatened to wreck his World Cup.

The star forward has been struggling for weeks with thigh and knee injuries that forced him out of Portugal's last two warm-up matches and raised fears he might miss the start of the Brazil tournament.

Portugal kick off their World Cup campaign against Germany on June 16 in Group G, which also features the USA and Ghana.

The 29-year-old Ronaldo took part in training with the rest of the Portugal squad in New Jersey, in the United States, and could be in line for a return to competitive action on Tuesday in a friendly with Ireland.

Training was a tepid affair, with Ronaldo and his teammates doing stretching and passing drills for the media.

The Portuguese have toiled in the Real Madrid ace's absence, drawing 0-0 with Brazil-bound Greece last weekend and laboring against fellow World Cup qualifiers Mexico Friday before grabbing a 1-0 victory in injury time.

Experienced midfielder Raul Meireles also trained with the full squad on Saturday, while key defender Pepe, who missed his club Real Madrid's Champions League victory because of injury, stepped up his return but remains on a separate rehabilitation program.

Coach Paulo Bento has not hidden his frustration at the constant speculation over the availability of Ronaldo, who has scored 49 goals in 110 matches for Portugal.

"Ronaldo is not the only good player we have," he snapped on Thursday.

But on the evidence of Friday's barely deserved victory - thanks to a powerful header from stand-in skipper Bruno Alves - Portugal will need Ronaldo at his brilliant best if they are to make an impact in Brazil.

Suarez kicking ball again - report 

Luis Suarez kicked a ball again during World Cup training Saturday just 16 days after undergoing knee surgery, Uruguayan media reported.

The Liverpool striker has been "walking, running a little in a straight line and for the first time kicked the 'Brazuca' ball", said the Uruguayan football website Tenfield.

"He played short passes and did some headers", Uruguayan newspaper Ovacion reported of the team training session, which was supposed to take place behind closed doors.

On Friday, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said Suarez's rehabilitation was proceeding well.

The 27-year-old is a key element in Uruguay's team after the best season of his career when he was top scorer in the English Premier League with 31 goals for Liverpool, who finished runners-up to Manchester City.

Suarez underwent a knee operation on May 22 in Montevideo to fix a problem with his meniscus.
Uruguay are in Group D with England, Italy and Costa Rica.

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