Ronaldo hits out at vuvuzelas

Cristiano Ronaldo added his voice to the complaints about the wall of sound being made by the vuvuzela trumpets at the World Cup, protesting they disturb the players' concentration.

"It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate," the Portugal star told a press conference yesterday.

"A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to get used to them." The metre-long (three feet-long) plastic vuvuzelas have been a hit with fans at the World Cup stadiums in South Africa, but the noise of thousands being blown at once resembles a high-volume swarm of buzzing bees. "Teams have done nothing but criticise the vuvuzelas, but you have to respect them," Real Madrid midfielder Ronaldo said.

"Hardly anyone likes them, but the people who do like them are those who like to blow the instruments and make a racket." As well as the vuvuzelas, Ronaldo said he was getting used to the much-criticised World Cup match ball. "I'm more used to it than I was two weeks ago. I don't think it will be a problem," he said. We've trained enough with it to get accustomed to it and I'm sure the dribbles, the shots and the corners with it will all be fine."

Portugal start their Group G matches against the Ivory Coast on Tuesday.