Portugal will top their group, says Ronaldo

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo is seen on October 2, 2013 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid. (AFP/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)

LISBON: Portugal will top their 2014 World Cup qualifying group F and qualify automatically for the finals, their superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old -- whose hat-trick against Northern Ireland last month lifted him to second spot on Portugal's all-time scoring list with 43 goals, four behind Pauleta -- believes the Portuguese will beat Israel on Friday and then minnows Luxembourg next Tuesday.

Ronaldo is placing faith in the fact that present leaders Russia, who have a one point advantage, will slip up away to Luxembourg or away to Azerbaijan next Tuesday.

"I remain convinced that we will be able to regain top spot (they lost it when Russia beat Israel last month), even if our fate isn't entirely in our own hands," said the Real Madrid playmaker.

The Portuguese, who reached the Euro semi-finals last year but have struggled to impose themselves on a relatively easy qualifying group, will be without several key players for the match with Israel in Lisbon.

Defenders Joao Pereira and Bruno Alves are missing through injury, as is midfielder Raul Meireles while up front both Helder Postiga and Vieirinha are also absent.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento has called up Sereno to replace Alves and Custodio for Meireles, but Ronaldo doesn't think that would matter.

"This won't affect players who wish to play and give the best of themselves."

Ronaldo, who made his international debut 10 years ago but is yet to win a title with the national side, said he wasn't thinking of Pauleta's mark.

"I don't put pressure on myself," he said.

"If I score that will be great, but the most important thing is that the team wins."