Cristiano Ronaldo has promised to be a “good boy” as he prepares to face a tide of boos at the Aviva Stadium.
The Portugal skipper will lead his team-mates in their World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Thursday a month after celebrating Ruben Neves’ last-gasp winner in the reverse fixture in the face of defender Jake O’Brien.
Ronaldo admitted as he faced the media on Wednesday that he expects to be booed, but is concentrating only on the task of helping his team reach what he has revealed would be his last World Cup finals.
He said: “I really like the fans here. The support they give to the national team, it’s lovely. For me, it’s a pleasure to come and play here again.
“Of course, it will be tough. I hope they don’t boo me too much tomorrow. I swear that I’m going to try to be a good boy.
“But of course, I do my job. I try to win the game and try to score to help my team. I’m sure that the game will be difficult.”
Ronaldo endured an evening to forget in the Lisbon encounter as he drew a blank after Caoimhin Kelleher saved his penalty, which had been awarded by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak.
Ireland fans accused the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star of having an undue influence over the match official, but the man himself was having none of it.
He said: “It’s normal because they know if they lose tomorrow, they are out, so they try to make things around the game, to try to do things.
“But we have to be prepared for a tough game. I think it will be very similar to the game they played in Lisbon – and they have a chance.
“They are a good team, so we are prepared. I think Portugal will have a good game and will try to win the match.”
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