De Gea: Cristiano Ronaldo has been well studied Portugal vs Spain Goalkeeper talks to MARCA

As Spain get ready to face Portugal in their World Cup opener, goalkeeper David de Gea has noted that La Roja have done their homework on danger man Cristiano Ronaldo.

Against Switzerland, the Manchester United custodian didn't have his best game with the national team, but he knows his place in the starting XI is assured.

"We are already focused on the World Cup, which is what matters now, we shouldn't think about anything else," he said to MARCA.

"If we do things well, we will have many opportunities to win the title, but we can't underestimate anything or anyone."

RONALDO

Portugal loom largest and De Gea will be ready.

"The first match is always important, and more so when it is against a rival as hard and complicated as Portugal," he continued.

"We have to face the game as we did in the qualifying phase, that is, playing our own game.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is well studied, and everyone knows he's one of the best in the world.

"He also has a great team behind him, they're European champions and it will be a tough game."

CRITICISM

De Gea had little to do against Switzerland in Spain's recent friendly, and perhaps a lack of concentration contributed to his mistake which handed the Swiss an unlikely draw.

He accepts the criticism though.

"You have to know how to take it and live with it," he added.

"We're used to it and we accept it, because criticism is always there.

"The mistakes of a goalkeeper are very striking, as was shown against Switzerland, but better to fail in a friendly than not in the World Cup.

"I am still young and it's clear that I can improve.

"In these matches you get more experience and that's good."

VAR

VAR is also likely to have an influence on how games turn out, something that De Gea believes will be fine unless the game keeps stopping and starting because of it.

"If the VAR is well used, if the game doesn't stop very much, there will be important decisions that change the course of the game and that's fine," he noted.

"What I do worry about is that the match will keep stopping.

"It will be positive for football, but we mustn't forget that football is a fast-paced sport and if you stop it...

"The important thing you have to look at it and decide with justice. "