United States vs Portugal team news World Cup 2014: Cristiano Ronaldo STARTS for Portugal, Clint Dempsey leads the line for USA

Star player has been suffering with a knee injury all tournament

Cristiano Ronaldo and his new haircut for the match (Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo will start for Portugal against USA in their must-not-lose Group G contest.

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The world player of the year hasn't been able to shake a lingering left knee injury since coming to Brazil, but trained normally with the rest of his team-mates yesterday ahead of tonight's match.

Clint Dempsey, the former Fulham man, leads the line for the USA. The veteran striker broke his nose in USA's 2-1 victory over Ghana but will start.

Despite his "dream" of a goal against Ghana, US defender John Brooks is on the bench.

Portugal: Beto; Bruno Alves, Pereira, A.Almeida, Costa; Veloso, Meireles, Moutinho; Nani, Ronaldo, Postiga.

USA: Howard; Johnson, Cameron, Besler, Beasley; Beckerman, Jones; Bedoya, Bradley, Zusi; Dempsey.

Should Portugal lose in the Manaus jungle, they will be knocked out of the World Cup.