Sportsmole - Former Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz has claimed that the national side rely too heavily on the performances of skipper Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 27-year-old scored twice as Portugal defeated Netherlands 2-1 on Sunday to advance to the Euro 2012 quarter-finals, and Queiroz believes that the Real Madrid man is given "excessive importance."

"Portugal have a national team called Cristiano Ronaldo and a group of players who run after him," Queiroz told TVI24.

"The approach should be different: Ronaldo being only an asset to the team. A few years ago, the national team reflected Luis Figo, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa and Fernando Couto.

"When they retired, it became centred on Ronaldo. This excessive importance makes it that when he plays badly, the criticism is all targeted at him."

Queiroz was dismissed by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2010.