Ruben Dias: I am pragmatic and not blind. I will not say that Portugal is not capable of competing in the World Cup.

Hupu, October 12th: Portugal central defender Ruben Dias was interviewed by Portugal’s state-owned TV station after defeating Ireland 1-0.

"The most important thing today is to get three points and keep the chance to advance in the next game. It's not easy; their defense was very low the whole game and it was difficult to break through.

We tried various methods, good and bad, but until the first goal, the game became very difficult. Fortunately, we did what we wanted," he told RTP.

"We won the game in the end with our possession, and we have to always work hard to be efficient and find space to attack. Staying calm is important.

Even so, we were too hasty at times and ended up lacking the patience that could have opened up space for a breakthrough at the right moment.

With three games left, the next game could see us qualify, but we will keep our feet on the ground until we finally get there."

Are you as confident as the fans about winning the World Cup?

"I'm equally pragmatic, but I'm not blind, and I won't say that we don't have the quality to win the World Cup, but it always depends on the moment we actually step into the World Cup.

By then, we may have been best prepared, but how we unite at critical moments is the decisive factor. We are confident in the strength of our home court and the many good players we have in different positions."