Iran coach Carlos Queiroz is not expecting any tips from his former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson on how to beat an England team he rates as a genuine World Cup contender.
Queiroz enjoyed two spells as Ferguson's assistant at United between 2002 and 2008, aiding the Scotsman as the Red Devils won six trophies over that period, including the 2007-08 Champions League and three Premier League crowns.
Although Queiroz resumed his own managerial career in 2008 as he took over the Portuguese national team for two years, he and Ferguson have remained friends.
On Monday, Queiroz's Iran side will go up against England in their Group B opener, and the former Real Madrid head coach will be taking full credit if he can mastermind a surprise win, with Ferguson seemingly not offering up any tips on how to beat the Three Lions.
"I confess I didn't receive any help from Scotland," Queiroz said with a chuckle on Sunday.
"Of course, we talk frequently as friends, but you can relax, Scotland this time is not supporting anything against England."
Queiroz seemed particularly familiar with Gareth Southgate's side and spoke with great admiration about them.
He reflected on his time working with United in England and championed the attitude and spirit of English players, though Queiroz believes the generation of 2022 is the best since the 1966 vintage, when the Three Lions last won the World Cup.
"I worked with English players, I met them. They're really brilliant, great and fantastic attitude all the time," he said. "They love to play the game with rhythm and intensity, which is part of the culture of English football.
"We know the English culture isn't like Spanish or Portugal, obsessed by ball possession, but then we know in a country like England, teams like Leicester City are able to win a championship with more opportunities without so much of the ball possession, like Manchester City and the other clubs. Football is this magic.
"The English players have my heart because they are a great example, they are always ready to play, always training with intensity. The way they play the game with a direct mind to put the ball in the net with full intensity, it's amazing.
"If I choose one kind of players to go to war, for sure I would not ignore the mentality and attitude of English players. This new generation Southgate is bringing in the national team, in my opinion I'd say it's the most talented…most competitive English national team since 1966, which I had the opportunity to see.
"This team is very functional, very practical, realistic. I worked with the generation of Rio [Ferdinand], not in the national team, and [Paul] Scholes, David Beckham, fantastic players all those guys, but this national team is really different because they have a realistic approach to every game, which makes them very dangerous.
"What can I say about England that people don't already know. They're one of the top national teams. Taking into consideration the last result and work they're doing, they're serious candidates to be in the final, one of the medal positions, even a candidate to be world champions."
Aliou Cisse vowed Senegal "will leave our mark" at the World Cup as they look to extend their perfect opening-game record at the tournament when they face the Netherlands.
The reigning African champions have won their previous two openers – a shock 1-0 win over France in 2002 and a 2-1 victory against Poland in 2018.
Senegal reached the quarter-finals 20 years ago, but they were eliminated in the group stage in the most recent edition and Cisse is hoping for a different outcome this time.
"The aim is to get out of this group. Once we get out of this group, we know that it will be a knockout tournament," he told reporters.
"We will leave our mark. People are already looking ahead to the last 16, the quarter-finals, but we will be taking it a game at a time.
"We're not getting carried away. It's up to us to fully prepare ourselves and to do so wisely. We were knocked out of the last World Cup after just three games."
Senegal defeated Egypt in February to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, before beating the same side the following month in a World Cup qualifying play-off.
Cisse's side are ranked 18th in the world – 10 places behind the Netherlands – and are without star man Sadio Mane in Qatar due to injury.
Senegal may have a perfect opening-game record, but the Netherlands are unbeaten in their past eight curtain-raising matches, winning six of those.
Oranje are back on the world stage after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, with veteran boss Louis van Gaal now in his third spell in charge.
Van Gaal, who will step aside at the end of the tournament, admits his side will need more than just talent to go all the way in Qatar and lift the trophy for the first time.
"I don't believe we have the best players on earth in our team," he said. "But I believe in team building and in tactics. I believe we can go far.
"But we also need luck – that is also important. Because of that and because I believe in imagination, we could be the world champion at the end of the tournament."
Monday's Group A contest at Al Thumama Stadium will mark the first time Senegal and three-time World Cup runners-up Netherlands have met.
Oranje are unbeaten in four matches against African opposition in the finals, while Senegal have won two and drawn one against European sides in the group stage.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Senegal - Boulaye Dia
Losing Mane to injury just before the tournament was a cruel blow for Senegal, the forward having been directly involved in 12 of their past 25 goals in major tournaments.
It will now be down to others to step up and fill the void, such as Salernitana forward Boulaye Dia, who has been in good form at club level this campaign.
Dia has six goals in 14 Serie A matches – a tally only five others can better – and has been directly involved in eight overall for mid-table Salernitana.
Netherlands - Steven Bergwijn
Memphis Depay was the Netherlands' star man on the road to Qatar with 12 goals and six assists – those 18 direct goal involvements the most of any player in UEFA qualifying – but he has been ruled out of the Senegal match.
Van Gaal has a number of other options in attack, however, with Bergwijn one of them.
The Ajax winger has eight goals and three assists in 14 Eredivisie matches this campaign, and six goals in his past nine appearances for his country, making him one Van Gaal can rely on.
PREDICTION
The Netherlands have won 11 of their past 14 matches at the World Cup, penalty shoot-outs excluded, with their most recent group-stage loss coming in 1994 against Belgium.
Senegal are tricky first opponents for Oranje, but Stats Perform's AI model has given the Netherlands a 59.2 per cent chance of taking all three points in Al Thumama.
The prediction model gives Senegal a 17 per cent chance of victory, while a draw is rated at 23.8 per cent.
Sebastian Vettel made it clear there are "far more important things than racing" as he said farewell to Formula One following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Vettel's last race came under the lights in the 2022 finale, where he secured a 10th-placed finish to claim a final point of his illustrious career in his 299th grand prix.
Speaking on the track as he made his goodbye speech, Vettel used the opportunity to highlight the privileged position the drivers find themselves in and implored the rest of the grid to use their roles for good.
"I don't have much more to say, I feel a bit empty to be honest, it's been a big week. I can only repeat, the last two years have been very disappointing from a sporting point of view, but very useful and important for me and my life," he said.
"There's a lot of things I've realised. I think it's a huge privilege to be in the position we are in and with that comes some responsibility, so I hope to pass on to some of the other drivers to carry on some of the good work.
"It's great to see that we have the power to inspire with what we do and what we say. There are far more important things than racing in circles, but that is what we love.
"Through that, if we can transfer some of the really important values, that is big. For that, the last three years have been great for me, so thank you for the support, the messages, the letters, the love in general. It's been an absolute joy throughout my career, so thank you."
While others have returned to Formula One after retiring from the grid, former F1 ace Martin Brundle believes there was a "finality" to Vettel's goodbye and does not expect him to return.
"It has been a wonderful send-off for him. It has a finality to it. There is nothing that suggests this is a temporary farewell, but I'm sure others felt like that as well – Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, who came back," he said on Sky Sports.
"This feels like he is moving on and I think he said in an interview that if he is stilling pining for F1 a couple of years from now he will have failed with the other things he wants to achieve in life."
Wales captain Gareth Bale is right where he wants to be ahead of leading his country into their second ever World Cup campaign.
Rob Page's team face the United States on Monday in what is Wales' first World Cup match since a quarter-final loss to Brazil in 1958.
Brazil great Pele scored his first goal for the Selecao in that match, becoming the competition's youngest goalscorer (17 years and 239 days) – a record that stands heading into the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Bale comes into the World Cup on the back of coming off the bench to net Los Angeles FC's extra-time equaliser in the MLS Cup, which finished 3-3 against the Philadelphia Union, with LAFC winning on penalties.
After that match in October, the former Real Madrid forward revealed he was still not at 100 per cent fitness, though at a press conference in Doha on Sunday, Bale put any concerns over his condition to bed.
"I'm right where I want to be, I'm here," he said. "It's the night before the first game and I'm ready to go.
"We've all been training hard the last week, adapting to the heat, the time zones and we have no excuses now – we've put all the hard work in and now it's game time.
"Hopefully we can step up and deliver what needs to be delivered."
Bale is Wales' record goalscorer in major international tournaments, having played a big part in his side's run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and the last 16 of Euro 2020, when he captained the team.
"It's an incredible feeling, one as a kid you dream of, but to actually be in the team that achieves it is an honour to do it for our country," Bale said of playing at a World Cup.
"It's going to be a fun time for us, one we want to enjoy and have fun like we always do as a national team.
"We're in our own little bubble here, but we get sent links and videos in our WhatsApp group of what's going on back home.
"We can see the tensions building. They're wearing their bucket hats more and the shirts are out. We can feel the love and we're going to try to do them proud. We're doing it for our country.
"Every World Cup [I've seen], there's never been a Wales flag. For the youngsters now, to have Wales in the World Cup will be an incredible experience to have."
Bale's sentiment was echoed by manage Page, who said: "I've spent the last week with them. They're ready, absolutely ready, I won't need to fire them up.
"We've got a gameplan, we've done a lot of analysis. They've waited a long time for it. It's been a difficult process to get here, with the emotions we had to manage in the Ukraine [play-off] game.
"I thought the lads showed true class on that day as well, showed they can manage emotions – it'll be no different."
Page also confirmed influential midfielder Joe Allen, a major fitness doubt ahead of the tournament, will play no part against the USA after failing to fully recover from a hamstring injury.
Max Verstappen acknowledged it will be tough to replicate his "unbelievable" season next year after landing his 15th win of the Formula One campaign at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Red Bull star secured a record third straight victory in races at the Yas Marina Circuit, leading from the start of Sunday's grand prix to its conclusion.
Dutchman Verstappen had secured his second consecutive world title long before the season-ending event in the Middle East, and it would be remarkable if he is similarly dominant in 2023.
"It's been really enjoyable this year, working with the whole team to be able to achieve something like this year," Verstappen told Sky Sports.
"I know it's going to be hard to replicate something like this, but it's also very good motivation to try and do well next year."
Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, who held off Sergio Perez to finish second in the drivers' championship, opted for a one-stop pit strategy with their respective Red Bull and Ferrari teams.
Two-time world champion Verstappen cited the importance of tyre management after an efficient performance, as constructors' championship winners Red Bull finished 205 points clear of Ferrari.
"I think we looked after the mediums quite well," he said. "And then on the hard tyres, I was looking after them from lap one until the end, but incredible to win here again."
After becoming the first driver to win three straight races in Abu Dhabi – and also the first to do so from pole in all three – Verstappen appeared somewhat lost for words, labelling the win as "unbelievable".
Charles Leclerc lauded the "perfect race" at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after holding off Sergio Perez to secure second in Formula One's drivers' championship.
Red Bull star Max Verstappen was a distant memory for the rest of the grid on Sunday, easing to a third-straight Abu Dhabi win and 15th victory of 2022 after already securing the world title.
Team-mate Perez did not have as much reason to celebrate, though, after being unable to overtake Leclerc, who finished three points ahead of the Mexican in the drivers' standings.
Ferrari opted to go with a one-stop pit strategy with Leclerc at the Yas Marina Circuit and the Monegasque driver hailed a faultless performance in the final event of the season.
He told Sky Sports: "I was 110 per cent from the first lap to the last. We had the perfect race.
"I knew the only way for us to beat Checo [Perez] was with a different strategy and playing with time management, which we did really well. We made the one-stop work so I am really happy."
Leclerc's performance was enough to secure Ferrari second in the constructors' championship, again behind Red Bull, as the Italian team finished 39 points ahead of third-placed Mercedes.
The 25-year-old hopes his team can correct their mistakes and strategy decisions from 2022 to compete for the title after making progress this campaign.
"I really hope next year we can make a step forward and fight for the championship but considering where we were, it is a step forward," Leclerc added.
"We still need to work on race pace as we tend to struggle on Sunday but we will push during the winter break."
Perez may be left to rue Verstappen's refusal to allow his Red Bull team-mate to overtake in Sao Paolo last weekend, seemingly handing the advantage to Leclerc in the drivers' championship.
The Mexican refused to dwell on the negatives after the race in Abu Dhabi, though, instead pinpointing the positives as Red Bull look to improve on an incredible season next year.
"It is how it is. Sometimes everything can be really close. At the end of the day, I've got to be happy," Perez said.
"I gave it all, as a team we gave it all through the season, and I'm sure we will come back stronger next year.
"We had great moments, great battling. I think I struggled a bit this year in terms of managing the tyres in the race, that can be something that we will improve for next year, and generally just be a bit stronger."
Max Verstappen claimed a record third straight victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc edged Sergio Perez for second at Formula One's season-ending event.
The Red Bull pair dominated the headlines in Sao Paulo last Sunday after Verstappen refused to allow Perez to overtake to aid his battle with Leclerc in the drivers' championship.
Verstappen became the first driver to win three consecutive races at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, but the Brazil decision came back to haunt Red Bull as Leclerc held off Perez to claim second.
That saw the Ferrari driver beat Perez to second in the drivers' championship, while Lewis Hamilton ended the 2022 season without victory for the first time in his career after late Mercedes car failure and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel signed off with a point.
Sao Paulo winner George Russell suffered a five-second penalty after an unsafe release in the pits, before Fernando Alonso retired on lap 28 due to problems with his Alpine car.
Red Bull decided to pit Perez on lap 34, handing second to Leclerc, before the Mexican eventually battled past Hamilton to move into third with 11 laps remaining.
Mechanical issues for Hamilton saw the Mercedes star forced to withdraw on lap 56, while Ferrari opted to keep Leclerc on the same hard tyres with a one-stop strategy throughout.
That decision proved rewarding as Leclerc held off Perez to finish behind 15-race winner Verstappen as Ferrari secured second in both the drivers' and constructors' championship behind Red Bull.
Hamilton claims unwanted record
Hamilton experienced a season to forget as he and Mercedes battled with car issues – no more so than on Sunday – and underwhelming performances against the dominant Red Bull.
The seven-time world champion boasts the most wins in history at Abu Dhabi (five) but was unable to draw on that experience as he finished without a win or pole position this season amid a frustrating campaign.
Vettel bows out
Four-time F1 champion Vettel announced in July he would retire at the end of the 2022 season, with the last event in Abu Dhabi acting as his final swansong.
The German, who was heard questioning his team's strategy on radio, could only manage 10th in his final outing but ended with the most points in history for Aston Martin (80) after his 299th career race.
IN THE POINTS
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +8.771 seconds
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +10.093s
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +24.892s
5. George Russell (Mercedes) +35.888s
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +56.234s
7. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +57.2402
8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +1:16.931s
9. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) +1:23.268s
10. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin) +1:23.898s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 454
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 308
3. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 305
4. George Russell (Mercedes) 275
5. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 246
Constructors
1. Red Bull 759
2. Ferrari 554
3. Mercedes 515
4. Alpine 173
5. McLaren 159
Antonio Rudiger has warned against overlooking Germany's chances of emerging victorious at the World Cup in Qatar, declaring: "You can never count us out".
Having won the 2014 World Cup, Germany mounted a dismal defence of the trophy four years ago as they crashed out in the group stages in Russia following defeats against Mexico and South Korea.
Germany also suffered a last-16 elimination against England at Euro 2020 – Joachim Low's final match before being replaced by Hansi Flick – leading many onlookers to favour the likes of Brazil, Argentina and France for glory in Qatar.
While Rudiger acknowledges Germany's recent form means Flick's men may not favourites for the tournament, he believes they have the talent to spring a surprise.
"Honestly, if we speak about favourites, we have to speak about form. Before the last international break, you look at teams like Brazil and France," Rudiger told The Guardian.
"I think because of our current form, us maybe not so much, but we are a big nation and have a good team. You can never count us out. Anything can happen.
"We don't need to be afraid of anyone. It's football. If you're really tight together it can be very helpful. We have to get the job done.
"We have played many great games. Now it's the big stage. I'm not worried. We have a fantastic group."
Germany's last competitive fixture saw them throw away a 2-0 lead in a thrilling 3-3 Nations League draw with England, and Rudiger says Die Mannschaft must improve defensively in Qatar.
"I watched that game from home," Rudiger said, recalling September's high-scoring draw at Wembley. "I think both teams were not at their best. We need to improve.
"We need to manage the game better. If you're winning 2-0, you cannot give it away in four minutes."
Asked whether a lack of experience in Flick's squad contributed to that result, Rudiger added: "Maybe a little bit. But the goals we conceded were a little bit too easy.
"This has nothing to do with experience – it's just a lack of focus. We are not robots.
"We all make mistakes, but you try to avoid those easy ones where you lack concentration. That's the pressure that comes with this high level. You cannot have this lack of focus."
Germany begin their Group E campaign against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on Wednesday.
United States coach Gregg Berhalter stressed his team are not in Qatar to focus on off-field matters, though he indicated he does not agree with the views of FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
The Qatar World Cup has been surrounded by controversy, and an hour-long monologue from Infantino at a press conference on Saturday caused further contention.
Infantino used the media gathering to accuse the Western world of hypocrisy, insisting engagement rather than ridicule was needed in order to promote change in Qatar, which has a dubious human rights record.
The FIFA president began his speech with: "Today, I feel Qatari. Today, I feel Arab. Today, I feel African. Today, I feel gay. Today, I feel disabled. Today, I feel [like] a migrant worker."
Amnesty International subsequently criticised Infantino's comments, which also drew an incredulous reaction from sections of the media in Doha and around the world.
Berhalter backed Infantino's right to express his views, but ahead of his side's opening match against Wales, suggested they are not shared by the USA's squad.
"He's the president of FIFA and expresses his opinions as he sees fit," Berhalter said in a press conference on Sunday.
"We're here to play soccer, we're here to represent the United States and we don't necessarily represent the views of Infantino.
"That's the way it goes. He has the right to express that and we have the right to our opinions."
Wales are among several teams who will defy FIFA during the tournament.
Infantino insisted on Saturday that he had assurances "everyone was welcome", but Gareth Bale will wear a OneLove armband in support of diversity and inclusion, with homosexuality illegal in Qatar.
Asked if the USA would be looking to highlight the issues surrounding the tournament and the host nation, Berhalter replied: "For us, very similar to our efforts State-side, we have this mantra of 'be the change'.
"It's starting with the individual, and understanding every individual has a right or an obligation to promote change on their own level. That's something we've focused on as a group, a federation and as a team.
"I think the campaign has been successful. We started educating the players about 18 months ago about what’s going on in Qatar – from my perspective there's been some positive things and there's still also some work to do.
"This World Cup can help bring awareness to some of that, and that's why I think we're right in line with trying to bring attention to some of the issues here."
Named captain for the tournament, Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams shared his experience of meeting some of the migrant workers who had contributed to the building of the stadiums in Qatar.
"It was an amazing opportunity to be able to speak with some of the people that built the stadiums that we obviously have an amazing opportunity to play in," the 23-year-old said.
"It was all people who had an interest in football. They were so passionate about the stadiums, they all had a favourite, so to have a conversation with them, which games they were looking forward to, was really interesting and intriguing."
Serge Gnabry emitted immense confidence ahead of the World Cup after completing what he believes was a transformation from "so-so player" to the brilliant attacker he is today.
Gnabry was not in Germany's squad for the last World Cup, despite breaking into the side two years earlier.
At the time of Russia 2018, the talented attacking midfielder had just completed a spell on loan at Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, but he would soon become a key player for both Die Roten and the national team.
Germany became the third successive defending champions to be eliminated at the World Cup group stage four years ago, ushering in a period of transition that undoubtedly benefited Gnabry.
But Gnabry did not always look to be on a path to such stardom. He failed to live up to early expectations at Arsenal and endured an underwhelming loan spell at West Brom, where manager Tony Pulis surmised the youngster was not good enough to play regularly.
Gnabry is unsure how he turned his fortunes around so significantly, but there is no doubt about his confidence as Germany prepare to open their Qatar 2022 campaign against Japan on Wednesday.
"I don't know, at some point, I managed to flip the switch from being a so-so player to becoming the Serge Gnabry that I want to be," he told reporters at Germany's training base on Sunday.
"It's always difficult to really pinpoint what the reasons were. Even if there's a bit of a low, you keep working hard and maybe, as a player, you really give too much time and thought on why you haven't scored this, why you haven't done that.
"But really, when called upon [we need] to delete these negative thoughts, to delete any negativity from our heads and, of course, play well.
"Making good assists and scoring lots of goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern, that has certainly helped and that helps us to approach the coming challenges with a great deal of self-confidence.
"So, I'm absolutely looking forward to the coming games and I hope that I can give my all, just as I have recently in the league."
Gnabry's form backs up his confidence, as the 27-year-old has already had a hand in 19 goals (10 scored, nine assisted) in all competitions this season, a haul only six other players across Europe's top five leagues can better.
An excellent final round of 67 saw Jon Rahm seal the third DP World Tour Championship of his career on Sunday.
The Spaniard finished on 20 under par, winning by two shots ahead of Tyrell Hatton and Alex Noren in Dubai and four ahead of Rory McIlroy, who had something to celebrate of his own with his fourth-place finish.
As a result, McIlroy ends the year as DP World Tour number one for a fourth time, winning the Harry Vardon Trophy.
Rahm looked to be in the mood to secure victory after recording birdies on each of the first three holes, only to bogey the fourth, leaving Noren breathing down his neck as the Swede also started brightly to go within one of the lead.
Things turned on the seventh hole though as Noren dropped a shot, before Rahm gained one to extend his advantage to three.
Hatton went on to set the clubhouse lead at 18 under, but Rahm did not drop another shot as he tidied up his round with further birdies at the 13th and 15th before confirming his win with a simple par on the 18th.
After his victory, Rahm said it was a "very" special one, adding: "Because of coronavirus I never got the chance to defend my 2019 title, even though I decided not to come last year I came in with the mentality [this year] that nobody beat me in the last two years, so they're gonna have to beat me again.
"I like this course and this course likes me, so I hope this is the third of many more."
McIlroy was equally pleased with his own award, with the world number one becoming just the second player in history to win the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the DP World Tour order of merit in the same season.
After his final round of 68, McIlroy said: "It means a lot, it's been seven years since I've last done it [finished top of European Tour rankings] and obviously this is my fourth one.
"I was a model of consistency through the year, a lot of top finishes, I think my worst finish was 12th in Abu Dhabi, so just a really consistent season, kept putting in good performances; it would have been nice to get one win in there at the end of the year here but Jon played an incredible tournament and fully deserved it."
Elsewhere, English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick finished joint-fifth on 13 under, while Dane Rasmus Hoejgaard shot 67 to move up to joint-seventh with Pole Adrian Meronk on 11 under.
Antoine Griezmann hopes to offer "complete" performances if selected to play a more withdrawn role for France at the World Cup.
Griezmann impressed when playing behind Olivier Giroud as France won their second World Cup in 2018, with his tally of four goals in Russia only bettered by England's Harry Kane (six).
Despite Griezmann occupying a traditional striking role for Atletico Madrid, reports have suggested Didier Deschamps may deploy the 31-year-old in an advanced midfield position behind two forwards in Qatar.
While the news that Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema will miss the tournament with a thigh injury could provoke a rethink, Griezmann told Telefoot he is content to play in any position.
Asked about his role for Tuesday's Group D opener against Australia, he said: "I don't know. Otherwise, you should give me the phone number of the Australia coach and we'll give him the eleven.
"I try to be a very complete player. Whether offensively or defensively, I love getting balls back, helping my team-mates in defence.
"For me, it's always a pleasure. No matter where I play, I try to give the maximum, to do what the team needs."
Despite nine of his 21 appearances coming from the bench, Griezmann has impressed for Atletico this season, recording six goals and four assists in all competitions.
The versatile forward was named in the World Cup Team of the Tournament four years ago, and believes he is well-placed to enjoy another positive campaign in Qatar.
"I needed a big pre-season, a good preparation," he added. "I feel I'm in great shape. I have the legs and the head is fine."
Cristiano Ronaldo will be "phenomenal" at the World Cup as long as Portugal meet expectations as a collective, according to his team-mate Ruben Neves.
Ronaldo has been at the centre of a media storm over the past week after he took part in an astonishing interview with broadcaster Piers Morgan.
During the one-on-one, Ronaldo was largely scathing of Manchester United, criticising the board, young players and manager, Erik ten Hag.
United confirmed on Thursday they have dealt with the matter, though they did not disclose what punishment had been handed out to Ronaldo.
He was then reported as being ill when absent for Portugal's pre-World Cup friendly with Nigeria on Thursday, but he returned to training two days later.
Despite the hysteria surrounding the 37-year-old, Neves insists Portugal – and Ronaldo – are looking good ahead of their World Cup opener against Ghana on Thursday.
"From what I've seen in training, he's in great shape," Neves told reporters at Portugal's training base.
"[Ronaldo's interview] is not at all a subject that concerns us. We know perfectly well that our collective must work very well to highlight individuals.
"And With Cristiano it's no different. If we're good, we know that Cristiano is going to be phenomenal."
After Ronaldo joined up with the Portugal squad in the wake of his controversial interview, a video of him greeting his United colleague Bruno Fernandes was perceived to depict some hostility from the latter.
The clip turned out to be from a longer video published by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), with Fernandes adamant they were sharing a joke that had been misconstrued.
Neves supported this claim, dismissing the idea of controversy entering the dressing room.
"There is no controversy in the locker room," he continued. "It is impossible for us to discuss these controversies since they do not exist in the locker room.
"These are more controversies outside and on social media rather than in the locker room.
"Everything has been said. We are 100 per cent focused on the World Cup. We have a great atmosphere in the team, we are concentrating on that."
Suryakumar Yadav struck 111 not out off 51 balls to guide India to a 65-run victory over New Zealand in Sunday's second T20I at Bay Oval.
The sides were foiled by rain in the opening game of their three-match series without a ball being bowled, but India deservedly came out on top in Mount Maunganui.
Suryakumar hit seven sixes and 11 fours to further underline why he is the world's top-ranked T20 batter, while Ishan Kishan chipped in with 36 as India's next highest scorer.
The Men in Blue reached 191-6 and New Zealand fell well short as they were skittled for 126 in the 19th over, with skipper Kane Williamson (61) supplying almost half their runs.
Rain at times threatened the contest, with India 50-1 in the seventh over when players were forced off the field, but play resumed and India wasted no time in wrapping things up.
Spinner Deepak Hooda starred with the ball by taking 4-10 off 2.5 overs, including the last three scalps in the space of four balls.
India shake off World Cup blues
India suffered T20 World Cup semi-final disappointment last week, as did opponents New Zealand, but they bounced back with this well-earned victory.
They have now won each of their past four T20Is with New Zealand, including each of the past four, making this their best ever winning run against the Black Caps in the format.
Southee flourish not enough
Tim Southee gave New Zealand some hope when removing skipper Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar and Deepak in the final over for his second career hat-trick.
But the damage had already been done by Suryakumar, who raced to a 49-ball hundred en route to 111 in his latest dazzling display with the bat.
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