Former FIFA World Player of the Year Luis Figo expected the Portuguese national team would go beyond the semifinals at the upcoming World Cup, which will kick off on June 9 in Germany.

The current Inter Milan midfielder, who came out to help Portugal qualify after nearly a year of retirement from the national squad, said their main aim was to reach the semifinals and anything else achieved would be a bonus.

"Portugal are not at the same level as Brazil and Argentina, but we all have high hopes of winning," FIFAworldcup.com quoted the 34-year-old player as saying.

Portugal is pooled with Mexico, Iran and the first-timers Angola in Group D at the World Cup finals, with the first tournament with the Palancas Negras (Black Antelopes) scheduled on June 11.

"First we need to get through our group. If we fail to do that, like we did last time around, then our World Cup will have been a complete failure," said Figo, who quit the national team after the 2004 European championships.

Portugal arrived at the World Cup on the back of an excellent campaign at the 2000 European championships and with a team containing what was widely regarded as the golden generation of Portuguese football.

Nevertheless, Portugal was eliminated from the first round at the Korea-Japan World Cup in 2002, despite being placed as favorite of the group.

"Now you're coming into this tournament having enjoyed another superb European championships and a very good qualifying campaign, " added Figo, "but smart people don't make the same mistake twice."

Figo's football career started in his native land in 1991, then he made his name in Spain playing for powerhouse teams FC Barcelona and Real Madrid before switching to Inter Milan in 2005.

The year 2000 is known as a significant period, when Figo became a soccer celebrity by leading Portugal to the semifinals of European Championships and by being named as the European Football player of the Year.

The same year he moved from FC Barcelona to rival Real Madrid for a then-record fee of 56 million dollars.

In 2001 he achieved football's highest individual honor, being named FIFA World Player of the Year.

His wife is Helen Sweden, who is a famous Swedish model, and the couple have three daughters named Stella, Martina and Daniela.

Source: Xinhua