Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday threw his support behind former Manchester United colleague Wayne Rooney, who has been a shadow of his normal self for England during the World Cup.
Rooney has failed to score in six appearances on football's biggest stage -- two here and four in Germany four years ago -- and he has become a major media target.
Ronaldo, who is preparing to lead Portugal out against North Korea in Cape Town on Monday, said Rooney was a class act but he was surprised that England have struggled in South Africa.
"I'm quite surprised they didn't win," said the Real Madrid star.
"Rooney fights a lot, he tries hard. But England have to try to win something."
Pressed further on Rooney, who was lashed for criticising England fans who booed the team after their drab 0-0 draw with Algeria on Friday, Ronaldo said: "Wayne tries very hard, he is always like that.
"But he is playing alone at the front and it is hard when nothing is coming to him.
"When teams don't play well, it always the big players' fault. Wayne is a great player and it is not his fault."
Ronaldo, who infamously winked at the Portugal bench after Rooney was sent off when they two teams clashed in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final, spent six years at United before his big money move to Spain.
He admitted that he missed the club.
"Yes, I miss Manchester," said the Portugal captain.
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