Lisbon - The world's most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo was roundly blamed by the Portuguese media on Wednesday for the country's 1-0 defeat by Spain in their Soccer World Cup last 16 match.

Coach Carlos Queiroz does not escape censure either, but it is mainly Ronaldo - the team captain - who receives the most stringent criticism as the Portuguese came home early once again without the World Cup having only conceded one goal in their four matches but also only scoring in one game - the 7-0 hammering of North Korea.

"Ronaldo played one of his worst matches ever for the national side," commented Correio da Manha.

Publico took the same dim point of view of the 25-year-old Real Madrid star's displays.

"Ronaldo missed out completely on this World Cup. (Jose) Mourinho (the new Real Madrid coach) said that Portugal would not win this World Cup even if Ronaldo was going at 1000 kilometres an hour.

"But he (Ronaldo) did not even get near the speed of a cruise ship," it opined in its editiorial.

The editor of Diario de Noticias (DN) said that the former Manchester United player - who cost Real Madrid a world record 94 million euros last summer - 'had virtually not existed'.

The same line was taken by sports daily A Bola who said 'Ronaldo had left the World Cup without leaving his mark'.

Its rival Record had a photograph of an upset Ronaldo on its front page with the headline: "We have been cut down in our prime".

Queiroz, who got to know Ronaldo well when he was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, gets blasted as well especially for his removal of lone striker Hugo Almeida in the 58th minute with the match scoreless.

"Portugal eliminated after an error by Queiroz", was the DN headline.

The DN editor was scathing in his assessment of the Mozambique-born Queiroz, who had already attracted criticism during the qualifying stages when the 2006 semi-finalists had to win a play-off to reach South Africa.

Portugal had been led by "an unambitious coach". "Honestly, Queiroz' team reached its rightful level. The best team won, justifiably and without a surprise."

"The huge mistake to take off striker Hugo Almeida in the 58th minute opened the way for our elimination against Spain", asserted the Correio da Manha.

Goalkeeper Eduardo, who was in tears after the defeat, received praise from all rolund for a string of saves that denied the Sp;anish an even more impressive margin of victory.

"Eduardo was a giant, where the score could have been even bigger", purred his club coach Sporting Braga's Domingos Paciencia in DN.

"Eduardo, was very assured, and did not deserve this defeat," agreed Correio da Manha.

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