Larsson: Ronaldos a diver and I fear hell sink Swedens World Cup hopes

Published: 25 Mar 2009 - 19:56:16

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Larsson: Ronaldos a diver and I fear hell sink Swedens World Cup hopes

Henrik Larsson has branded Ronaldo a diver and admitted he will be taking steps to guard against the Manchester United winger's antics jeopardising Sweden's World Cup prospects, when they take on Portugal this weekend. Sweden's former United striker risked alienating his one-time Old Trafford team-mate by joining in the row over whether he hits the deck too easily. As he prepared for Saturday's qualifier in Porto, the Sweden skipper revealed he was so concerned about Ronaldo trying to hoodwink officials that he would be warning the referee to keep an eye on him. Sportsmail revealed earlier this week that United feared losing their free-scoring midfielder at the end of the season, due to an apparent lack of protection from referees. While Ronaldo feels he is being treated unfairly in the Premier League, though, Larsson is worried Saturday's referee may be taken in by the theatricals that have made the former Sporting Lisbon danger man such a controversial figure. Speaking in Porto, the veteran frontrunner said: 'I intend speaking with the referee before the match to warn him about Ronaldo diving. 'We must be careful, as a team, not to get caught out by that, but so must the referee. I will be having a word with him and telling him to keep an eye out for it.'