Portugal travelled to the United States yesterday with Cristiano Ronaldo saying the team needs to focus on getting off to a good start instead of thinking ahead about contending for their first World Cup title.

The Portuguese are among the favourites at the expanded 48-team tournament and the 41-year-old Ronaldo will be playing in his sixth World Cup, the most ever alongside rival Lionel Messi of Argentina.

“It is important to get off to a good start, do well in the first and second matches and then finish first in the group,” Ronaldo told reporters in Portugal before the team’s departure. “Then we go match by match, but not with the expectations of winning it all. It has to be step by step. A good start is the most important thing.”