Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his optimism on Friday as he prepared to depart Lisbon with the Portuguese national team for their World Cup base camp in Palm Beach, Florida.
We’re approaching this competition with a lot of hope, said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner. Preparation has been very good—tiring, because we’ve worked hard, added the veteran Portugal captain, emphasizing that he feels physically strong.
I’m very positive; I believe things will go well and that we’ll deliver a strong performance, Ronaldo continued. He praised the squad around him, calling it a very good generation… which will bring a lot of joy to the Portuguese people.
Ronaldo stressed the importance of a strong start: The most important thing is to begin well, with the first match, then follow up with the second and third, finish top of the group, and from there, take it one game at a time.
Portugal will begin their World Cup campaign on June 17 in Houston against the Democratic Republic of Congo, followed by matches against Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K. At 41, Ronaldo is set to make a record sixth World Cup appearance, though some observers worry his presence could hinder coach Roberto Martinez’s talented squad. Portugal recently won friendly matches against Chile and Nigeria, both by 2-1 margins, though Ronaldo did not score. The nation’s best World Cup finish was third place in 1966, and they reached the quarter-finals in Qatar four years ago.
—AFP
