BAD TATZMANNSDORF (Austria), June 14: A possible Euro 2008 semi-final meeting between Croatia and Portugal will be the end of the road for Portuguese maestro Cristiano Ronaldo, Croatian defender Hrvoje Vejic predicted on Saturday.

“We are glad that we are not playing Portugal in the quarter-finals because it would be a pity for Ronaldo to make such an early exit from the tournament,” Vejic told a news conference in Croatia’s training base.

“Of course, we have the utmost respect for Portugal, who are one of the best sides in the tournament, but we are also very confident of going all the way,” he added.Portugal won Group ‘A’ while Croatia clinched Group ‘B’ with a match to spare, meaning that they would play each other in the semis if they beat their quarter-final rivals.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said he was proud his team were now seen as one of the favourites and not dark horses but was slightly more reserved than Vejic.

“It is a nice feeling to move up the scale in people’s eyes but all teams that reach the last eight are favourites because they will be only two games away from the final,” he stated.

Croatia will face either the Czech Republic or Turkey in the quarter-finals while Portugal will take on Germany, Poland or co-hosts Austria.—Reuters