Robinho eyes 2018 WC after Brazil recall

Rio de Janeiro, March 6: Brazil forward Robinho said he already has an eye on the 2018 World Cup in Russia after earning an intertiol recall.

The 31-year-old expressed his gratitude to coach Dunga after being included in a 23-man squad for friendlies against France and Chile later this month.

“I’ve known Dunga for a long time. We were Copa America champions and Confederations Cup champions. I appreciate the confidence shown in me and hope I can show my worth,” Robinho said.

Robinho’s call-up is a reward for a sustained run of good form since joining Santos on loan from AC Milan in August. In 28 matches for his boyhood club, Robinho has scored 14 times including five goals from seven matches this year.

“I have put in a good pre-season and now I have to get continuity. Forwards need to score goals. I am doing that and I hope to continue in this form both for Santos and the Selecao,” he said.

Robinho was overlooked for Brazil’s 2014 World Cup squad by former tiol coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. He admits that he is glad to have missed the team’s 1-7 semi-fil loss to Germany in the World Cup, described by Brazilian media as a tiol tragedy.

“We have to forget the 1-7 but at the same time learn from the mistakes we made. Unfortutely Brazil lost but now that’s in the past. We can’t keep harking back to it. Now it’s time to think about the future,” Robinho said.

The ‘Selecao’ meet France in Paris on March 26 before confronting Chile in London on March 29. The friendlies will provide Dunga with a fil chance to assess his squad for Copa America, to be played in Chile from June 11 to July 4.

Robinho allowed himself to think even further ahead, raising the prospect of going to the 2018 World Cup.

“I have always taken good care of myself. The World Cup is the objective of any player. I have never won a World Cup but may be it could happen one day,” he said. IANS