Chicharito believes Mexico have an ‘incredible opportunity’ when they kick-off their Russia 2018 challenge against FIFA World Cup holders Germany on Sunday.
Mexico are 6/1 outsiders to beat Joachim Low’s side in their Group F opener at Moscow’s Luzkniki Stadium with the Hammers’ principal partner Betway, giving some indication of the task in front of the West Ham United striker and his compatriots.
However, Mexico’s all-time leading goalscorer is an eternal optimist and believes El Tri can upset the odds – and the world champions – and get their World Cup quest off to the perfect start.
It's a motivating, exciting challenge, and for me a very attractive one. I see it like that, I'm very excited and will try to give my all
Chicharito
“Of course we can beat Germany, we are preparing for that, obviously,” said the striker, who suffered a 4-1 defeat by Germany in the FIFA Confederations Cup semi-finals in Russia a year ago.
“We are preparing for the game against Germany. All these months, our mind has always been set in Germany. It is still in our heads and now that we are close to the match we are giving 100% responsibility and commitment to the preparation for that match on Sunday.
“It's an incredible opportunity to face the defending world champion. It's a motivating, exciting challenge, and for me a very attractive one. I see it like that, I'm very excited and will try to give my all.”
Looking even further into the future, the 30-year-old firmly believes Mexico, who have not been past the Round of 16 since hosting the tournament in 1986, can lift the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the same Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday 15 July.
Should Mexico come second in a group that also includes Sweden and South Korea, they could face Brazil in the Round of 16, then possibly England, Belgium or Colombia in the quarter-finals.
Despite the prospect of such a tortuous route to the final stages of the tournament, the 102-cap Hammer is not putting any limits on his country’s ambitions.
“I believe that we are capable of being champions, I have said it in many interviews. I can see it and feel it, and it's not just words, that's our main motivation, not just mine but also my colleagues', and a lot of people’s.
“I want to be world champion, we all want to be world champions. We do not want less, we do not want to put a limit on ourselves. We want to go as far as possible, but we visualize ourselves being world champions.
“We know that many things can influence a result and there are things we can't control but I hope that all of those fall in our side and we manage to have a historical performance.”
*Mexico's opening FIFA World Cup Group F fixture with Germany will be screened live by BBC One on Sunday 17 June, kicking-off at 4pm UK time.