The pressure on Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz intensified after his side were held to an embarrassing 0-0 draw by minnows Cape Verde.

Portugal fielded a strong team for the World Cup warm-up game at Covilha, with Premier League trio Ricardo Carvalho, Deco and Nani joining the likes of Liedson and Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up.

And despite dominating, they couldn’t break down the dogged visitors who are ranked 117^th in the world.

Real Madrid winger Ronaldo missed a hatful of chances while Hugo Almeida also went close, but Portugal’s struggle to overcome the African side was compounded when the hosts had to play out the last 25 minutes with ten men after Tiago went off injured.

Portugal had already used up all six substitutes and although their draw was only an exercise before the real business begins in South Africa, it’s a worrying sight for Portugal’s fans to see them continue their unconvincing form so close to the finals.

Among their poor results in a less than convincing qualifying campaign was a goalless draw at home to Albania.

The 2006 World Cup semi-finalists managed to secure a place in the finals through the play-offs, but a vast improvement is needed and fast otherwise Queiroz and his squad will face an early exit.