<p>Veteran Portugal defender Pepe admitted on Thursday he lost sleep before the World Cup because he was worried he would miss the tournament through injury.</p>.<p>The 39-year-old became the third-oldest outfield player to feature at a World Cup on Monday, starting for the first time in almost two months in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.</p>.<p>Pepe suffered a knee sprain in early October and made his return as a substitute for his club Porto in their final match before the World Cup on November 12.</p>.<p>"When I had the injury, I couldn't sleep to be honest," Pepe told a press conference, a day before his team play South Korea in their final Group H match.</p>.<p>"I couldn't sleep because I wanted to recover as soon as possible and play in another World Cup, to contribute to my national team, to achieve victory."</p>.<p>"So the journey seemed very long, but it is now over."</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/more-active-play-in-world-cup-from-stoppage-time-directive-1167381.html" target="_blank">More active play in World Cup from stoppage time directive</a></strong></p>.<p>"I have to look ahead, to look forward with objective of doing the best I can to secure a win."</p>.<p>Portugal have already qualified for the last 16 but can guarantee top spot if they win or draw against South Korea on Friday.</p>.<p>Danilo Pereira started at centre-back alongside Ruben Dias in the first game but fractured three ribs in training, allowing Pepe to step in and produce a strong display to shut out Uruguay.</p>.<p>He said even after 130 appearances he was still enjoying playing for his country.</p>.<p>"I can't say if it's the last World Cup that I will play," said Pepe.</p>.<p>"I am here to enjoy the tournament. It's a privilege to do what I love, to play football."</p>.<p>Portugal have one of the stronger squads at the tournament, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.</p>.<p>However, Pepe believes that talent alone will not be enough to earn Portugal their first World Cup trophy.</p>.<p>"We have several ingredients, and if we don't put all the ingredients together, as our coach has said, (it doesn't work).</p>.<p>"If we prepare a salad, you can't have tomato on one side and onion on the other side, you have to put them all together.</p>.<p>"We have a high-quality national team, but unless we work very hard, respect our opponents and do what our coach says, we won't benefit so much from this quality."</p>
<p>Veteran Portugal defender Pepe admitted on Thursday he lost sleep before the World Cup because he was worried he would miss the tournament through injury.</p>.<p>The 39-year-old became the third-oldest outfield player to feature at a World Cup on Monday, starting for the first time in almost two months in the 2-0 win over Uruguay.</p>.<p>Pepe suffered a knee sprain in early October and made his return as a substitute for his club Porto in their final match before the World Cup on November 12.</p>.<p>"When I had the injury, I couldn't sleep to be honest," Pepe told a press conference, a day before his team play South Korea in their final Group H match.</p>.<p>"I couldn't sleep because I wanted to recover as soon as possible and play in another World Cup, to contribute to my national team, to achieve victory."</p>.<p>"So the journey seemed very long, but it is now over."</p>.<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/more-active-play-in-world-cup-from-stoppage-time-directive-1167381.html" target="_blank">More active play in World Cup from stoppage time directive</a></strong></p>.<p>"I have to look ahead, to look forward with objective of doing the best I can to secure a win."</p>.<p>Portugal have already qualified for the last 16 but can guarantee top spot if they win or draw against South Korea on Friday.</p>.<p>Danilo Pereira started at centre-back alongside Ruben Dias in the first game but fractured three ribs in training, allowing Pepe to step in and produce a strong display to shut out Uruguay.</p>.<p>He said even after 130 appearances he was still enjoying playing for his country.</p>.<p>"I can't say if it's the last World Cup that I will play," said Pepe.</p>.<p>"I am here to enjoy the tournament. It's a privilege to do what I love, to play football."</p>.<p>Portugal have one of the stronger squads at the tournament, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.</p>.<p>However, Pepe believes that talent alone will not be enough to earn Portugal their first World Cup trophy.</p>.<p>"We have several ingredients, and if we don't put all the ingredients together, as our coach has said, (it doesn't work).</p>.<p>"If we prepare a salad, you can't have tomato on one side and onion on the other side, you have to put them all together.</p>.<p>"We have a high-quality national team, but unless we work very hard, respect our opponents and do what our coach says, we won't benefit so much from this quality."</p>