YOKOHAMA - Injury-plagued Ronaldo has lost his battle to be fit for AC Milan's Club World Cup semifinal clash today.

YOKOHAMA - Injury-plagued Ronaldo has lost his battle to be fit for AC Milan's Club World Cup semifinal clash today.

Milan take on Japan's Urawa Reds, and are now setting their sights on a weekend final.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Brazilian striker still needed more time to recover.

"He cannot withstand 15 minutes on the pitch in his condition as it is now," Ancelotti said here yesterday.

"We made the decision at a meeting this morning with him and doctors to leave him from the semifinal.

"But I believe he will recover and be ready to play sooner or later. In any case, he will have ample time until Sunday."

Milan are expected to defeat Urawa and face Argentina's Boca Juniors in Sunday's final of the tournament of continental champions, assuming Boca beat unfancied Etoile Sahel of Tunisia in their semifinal later yseterday.

Ronaldo had joined training on Tuesday for the first time since the European Champions League winners arrived here last week.

"I feel fine," he told reporters before working out alone with 30 minutes of light jogging.

Asked then about his chances of playing in the final, he said: "I will see. I will be trying in the next days," said Ronaldo yesterday. - Sapa-AFP