Portugal's Ronaldo hopes to face England

NUREMBERG, June 26 (Reuters) Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who limped off with an injured right thigh in win over the Dutch in the second round of the World Cup, said he hoped he would be fit to face England on Saturday.

''I don't think it's serious ... Tomorrow I will talk to the doctor and I hope I can play against England, but we will see tomorrow,'' he told reporters.

Portugal beat the Netherlands 1-0 in a bad-tempered match in which each side had two men sent off, including Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz who collected his first yellow card for his high challenge on the Manchester United winger.

Mark van Bommel had earlier been booked for tripping Ronaldo after only two minutes.

''I took two hits. I tried to stand for 15 minutes but my leg started to swell and I had to leave,'' said Ronaldo, who shed a few tears in the dugout after being replaced by Simao Sabrosa.

But he shrugged off suggestions that he had been singled out by the Dutch players for rough treatment.

''This is football. I'm used to it. Obviously I would have liked to help my team mates. I started the game very well and I thought I could have a great match today. But my team mates had a great game and I have to congratulate them,'' he said.

Ronaldo said he and Costinha, who was the first of the four men to be dismissed for second bookable offences, consoled each other in the dressing room, and that he was looking forward to the quarter-final clash in Gelsenkirchen against England.

''Every game from now is a final. I hope it's a great game of football (against England). I want both teams to finish the match with all 11 players -- then it will be a good game,'' he said.

REUTERS PM PC0908