Pereira’s World Cup Dream

- Ricardo Pereira says Portugal ‘have the force’ to qualify for the knockout stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
- Leicester City’s first summer signing has been included in his nation’s World Cup squad alongside Adrien Silva
- Pereira heads into the summer’s flagship tournament on the back of winning the Primeira Liga with FC Porto

Pereira has four senior international caps to his name having already represented his nation 35 times across four age groups at youth level, scoring 12 times in total.

In Group B, Portugal will face 2010 world champions Spain in their opening fixture on Friday 15 June before clashes with Morocco and Iran.

Speaking to LCFC TV about his call-up, Pereira said: “It’s very good, very good. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s very good after a season that we (FC Porto) were champions.

“The World Cup is a dream come true.

“We know it’s going to be a difficult task for us, but we have our force to pass to the next stage.” 

The opportunity to feature for Portugal at the World Cup is one that Pereira, like every young footballer, says has been a target of his since an early age.

He added: “The atmosphere, all the people watching it around the world, all the kids like me, who can say maybe one day it’s my dream to be there.

“I hope that it’s going to be a good memory in the future and I will enjoy it.”