Cristiano Ronaldo wants his Brazilian “brothers” to help Portugal navigate its way through the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil is the host nation, and Ronaldo hopes the Brazilian public will consider rooting for Portugal in addition to their own national team at this summer’s tournament, according to FIFA.com.
“I am hoping for great support from the Brazilians, it is a brother nation, speaking the same language,” Ronaldo reportedly told SporTV.
Portugal is a dark-horse candidate to win the World Cup and Ronaldo, the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, is expected to shine brighter than all players.
Portugal was drawn into Group G — the dreaded “Group of Death” — where it will face Germany on June 16, the United States on June 22 and Ghana on June 26.
“We are not favorites, but we shall try to enjoy it,” Ronaldo said. “We know we have a complicated group.”
If Portugal advances to the knockout rounds, the earliest it can face Brazil is in the semifinals. That gives Brazilians at least five games to cheer on Ronaldo and his teammates.
That is, if they even want to do so.
