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Sports

Portugal draws 0-0 with Greece in lackluster World Cup warm-up game

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Greece's Dimitris Salpingidis, left, tussles for the ball with Portugal's Andre Almeida during a friendly soccer match between Portugal and Greece at the National stadium, in Oeiras, near Lisbon, Saturday, May 31, 2014. The game is a warm-up match for both teams ahead the World Cup in Brazil. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

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    Portugal's Varela, top second right, heads the ball during a friendly soccer match between Portugal and Greece at the National stadium, in Oeiras, near Lisbon, Saturday, May 31, 2014. The game is a warm-up match for both teams ahead the World Cup in Brazil. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) (The Associated Press)

LISBON, Portugal – Cristiano Ronaldo sat out Portugal's exhibition match against Greece on Saturday and his flair was sorely missed as the two World Cup-bound teams produced a tedious 0-0 draw.

The muted game at the National Stadium in Lisbon did little to brighten the hopes of the two European teams ahead of the tournament in Brazil that begins June 12.

The under-strength Portuguese lacked a spark that could have translated their sporadic forward moves into goals. As well as Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who is recuperating from a series of leg injuries and sore muscles, Portugal felt the absence of playmaker Joao Moutinho in midfield and Pepe in the central defense.

Greece, though initially fielding its strongest team, looked ordinary and rarely got out of first gear.