Cristiano Ronaldo will captain Portugal tonight when they come up against China at the Cidade de Coimbra stadium in a friendly clash.

The captain will be featuring for his national team for the first time since missing Portugal’s last three matches through injury.

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, A Selecção will have to play Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

For Cristiano Ronaldo, warming up against China is a good manner for Portugal to prepare against North Korea’s threat as underdogs.

The Real Madrid attacker explained:

“We’re here to play against China who are similar to North Korea against which we will be playing at the World Cup.

“It’s just another game. Hopefully though, it will be a great game and we’ll win it too.”

Portugal have actually won all of their last five matches with Cristiano Ronaldo missing out from the country’s last three fixtures.

China also hold a strong record of fifteen consecutive matches unbeaten. The last and only time that Portugal and China met was in a 2002 friendly encounter. A Selecção ran away with a 2-0 victory.

Portugal Team News

Coach Carlos Queiros has called up 18 players for Portugal’s friendly against China. It includes Sporting Lisbon’s Joao Moutinho who has been consistently impressive lately. Meanwhile Porto’s Silvestre Varela will receive his first cap.

Like Cristiano Ronaldo, Hugo Almeida and Pedro Mendes return to the Portugal squad after being out due to injury.

Goalkeepers: Hilario, Eduardo

Defenders: Miguel, Ricardo Carvalho, Rolando, Paulo Ferreira, Bruno Alves

Midfielders: Pedro Mendes, Duda, Tiago, Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Liedson, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida, Silvestre Varela

Angela Asante, Footballfantalk.com