Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is not focusing on the World Cup just yet, because he wants to win with Real Madrid first.
Portugal were drawn against Germany, USA and Ghana in Friday’s group stage draw, but the Blancos forward has claimed that he is concentrating on his club duties first.
“There’s still a long way to go to the World Cup and I am focused on my club, I want to win everything and then we’ll see about the World Cup,” he told a Press conference.
“We have to enjoy the present, right now we are playing well and I’m confident. I hope Madrid can win something important.
“There are still many months to go before the World Cup and anything could happen. My aim is to stay focused on my club and give the best of myself.
“Iker doesn’t need to tell me what it’s like [to lift the World Cup trophy], I know what it’s like to lift the Champions League trophy so winning a World Cup must be even better, you would never forget it.
“My dream and that of everyone here is to win something as important as the World Cup but we have to keep our feet on the ground, take it all step by step, but only the best team can win, and I hope Portugal can be among the best.”
Ronaldo then commented on his individual expectations for the tournament in Brazil, and Portugal’s tough group stage.
“I didn’t see the draw live, I was asleep when the draw was on. It’s a very difficult group, because Germany are always candidates to win tournaments, and the USA and Ghana are very good teams.
“Our expectations are always the same – to go as far as possible. Our prioirity is to qualify from the group and then we will see what happens.
“We have to be realistic and look at the difficulties we face but from my point of view we can overcome them. It depends on what the team’s confidence is like, and how focused everyone is, which is very important. I hope we can go as far as possible.
“I’m going to try and do the best I can. I always play in the same way for my country as I do for my club.
“Perhaps we have been left with a bad taste [after losing the Euro 2004 final and the Euro 2012 semi-final to Spain on penalties] but we will try as hard as we always have.
“I will try to help my country and on an individual level I want to score goals. I always impose very high standards on myself.”
Click here to see the full World Cup 2014 group stage and fixtures.