Cristiano Ronaldo makes confession after Portugal's shock defeat and issues rallying cry ahead of Denmark clash

The 2018-19 Nations League champions could face elimination from the quarter-final stage this year after losing their first-leg fixture against Denmark on Thursday. Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund scored the solitary goal in the 78th minute to hand Denmark the advantage in the two-legged tie. Ahead of the second leg in Lisbon, Selecao captain Ronaldo confessed he "didn’t play at all" in the first leg he gave a rallying war cry to motivate his team-mates.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, the 40-year-old said: "The air is more tense. I won't hide it. We are in a more tense moment because we need to win, but that's the beauty of football. Tomorrow, I appeal to the fans to be with us.

"To transmit their strength to us, because we are going to try to do our best. That is my hope, that tomorrow will be a beautiful day for everyone."

Ronaldo added: "There is no other option. Anyone who is proud to represent this symbol must have this ambition. I have lost games in 90 minutes, but I have never lost in the first half. Tomorrow is the second half. There are games like that, there are bad days. I didn’t play at all, the team didn’t play at all, but it’s part of life. Tomorrow I want to leave the Alvalade Stadium with my head held high. If all the Portuguese people are on our side."

After the disappointing first leg, the Al-Nassr star will hope to find his scoring boots again on Sunday as they face the Danes at Jose Alvalade Stadium.