Portugal get the personal treatment at hotel base

If Portugal’s squad felt a little in Cristiano Ronaldo’s shadow, their digs for the World Cup should help boost egos.

Players yesterday tweeted pictures from their individual rooms, which showed their name and number above each bed.

Management are clearly hoping the personal touch raises confidence levels, although one wonders whether Ronaldo’s name is written larger than everyone else’s.

If this were the old days — when men were men and a beer (or five) was the ordered post-match warm-down —  it might have been a ploy to help players locate the right room.

The serious business for Portugal begins on Monday when they take on Germany in Group G in a huge early clash.

Their last warm-up game was a convincing 5-1 win over Republic of Ireland in the US, which saw Ronaldo play a part to allay injury concerns.

Manager Paulo Bento believes his team are ready and has rather hopefully also asked for support from Brazil fans.

“We are trying to rest as much as we can but still we have to be ready for the first game that we play,” Bento said.

“We have come through a process and we have had some difficulties at certain points. It has been a bit more complicated than usual but we have made it.”

He added: “We hope for, we wish for and we desire the support of the Brazilian people.”