Portugal international forward Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that his side will have to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals via the playoffs.

The Euro 2004 finalists were held to a 1-1 draw by Israel at home on Friday and are now second in Group F with 18 points from nine matches.

"It's not a drama to be in the playoffs," he told A Bola. "It's become normal, it's not a surprise because that's what has happened to us in recent years.

"[Automatic qualification] is mathematically possible but not up to us. We must be content to play the playoff.

"Hopefully, we'll now get a bit of luck and not get a complicated team. The only team I wouldn't like to face is France."

Russia currently lead Group F with 21 points from nine matches.

Written by
Subhankar Mondal