Ronaldo and Co staring at early exit, while Black Stars are buoyant
African side are taking positives from their performance in a 2-2 draw against Germany
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal face a sobering early World Cup exit even if their world footballer of the year produces pyrotechnics in their final group game against Ghana.
The Real Madrid player came to the World Cup bracketed alongside Argentina's Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar as one of a triumvirate of true global superstars.
But while the Barcelona pair have produced moments of sublime skill and goals, the attention surrounding Ronaldo has mainly focused on the health or otherwise of his troublesome left knee.
I never thought we would be world champions. We have to be humble and recognise our limitations. There are things we cannot do, like running faster or having more quality
Portugal - fourth in the Fifa world rankings - are rock bottom of group G with a solitary point from their matches against Germany and the United States, both of whom have four points.
They were pummelled 4-0 by Germany and the fact they still have any chance of progressing at all is down to Ronaldo, who delivered a sublime cross for their equaliser in a 2-2 draw against the United States.
Despite that goal, headed in by Silvestre Varela in the dying seconds of time added on, the cold, hard reality is that if US and Germany draw in Recife, Portugal and Ghana, who also have one point, are doomed.
Portugal have insisted Ronaldo is fit but he has failed to dominate matches in his usual manner and admitted his side's task is "virtually impossible".