Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has said Cristiano Ronaldo makes Portugal are more attacking team due to his constant hunger to score.

The 40-year-old Al Nassr striker will head into Thursday night's Group F fixture at the Aviva Stadium with 225 caps and 143 international goals to his name, the last two of them in a 2-2 draw with Hungary in Lisbon three days after Ireland's 1-0 defeat at the same venue last month.

Ronaldo saw Caoimhín Kelleher penalty save his penalty that night, a repeat of Gavin Bazunu's feat in Faro four years earlier, but head coach Hallgrimsson is well aware of the former Manchester United star's enduring potency when the two countries face off in a World Cup qualifier.

Asked about the threat he poses, the Icelander said: "The statist

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