Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has defended Cristiano Ronaldo against accusations that he is a cheat.

The Manchester United winger was involved in the controversial incident that led to Wayne Rooney's sending off during Portugal's quarter-final win against England and was then booed every time he touched the ball during the semi-final loss to France.

Scolari claimed the jeering came from jealous England supporters, who had been encouraged to take their frustration out on Ronaldo by biased reporting in the media.

"What the England fans did was totally absurd," moaned the Brazilian.

"Any referee who was one metre from that incident would have sent Rooney off. I'm sorry for him (Ronaldo) because I'm afraid he might be maltreated when he goes back to England."

He added: "Ronaldo has had a beautiful World Cup. He has improved a lot since he went to Manchester United and he has improved with the Portuguese national team as well, because of things we've passed on to him.

"His game has a characteristic, which is the dribble. If he gets touched, he falls over, which is normal.

"There are people who are much worse (at diving) and who are portrayed as saints.

"He's going to become one of the great players, possibly at or before the next World Cup."