Can Giant-killers destroy Ronaldo’s World Cup dream?

With a spot on the line for what could be his fi fth and fi nal World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo needs to avoid an upset like the one that ended Italy’s hopes of making it to the tournament in Qatar.

Portugal faces a winner-take-all game on Tuesday against North Macedonia, the team that shocked Italy last week to keep the four-time champions out of the World Cup for the second straight time.

“We were surprised,” Ronaldo said Monday. “North Macedonia has surprised in many matches. But I don’t think they will surprise us tomorrow. Portugal will play better and we will make it to the World Cup.”

Portugal is trying to reach its sixth straight World Cup, and Ronaldo is hoping to play in his 10th consecutive major tournament after appearing in four World Cups and fi ve European Championships since 2004.

“We know that if we win we will go to the World Cup and if we lose we are out,” he said.

The North Macedonia players have “90 minutes to fulfi l” the “dream of a whole country” said key midfi elder Elif Elmas ahead of the game.

“Frankly this might be one of the most diffi cult and most exciting matches for all of us,” said Elmas on Sunday. “We have 90 minutes to fulfi l our childhood dream, not only ours, but of the whole country.”

“We beat a giant like Italy, but still have one more step towards the World Cup. We dream of a victory on Tuesday,” said winger Ezgjan Alioski.