Jose Goncalves rsays Riordan & Co aren't scary

JOSE GONCALVES insists Derek Riordan and Co don't hold any fear for him in Saturday's Edinburgh derby - because he held his own against Cristiano Ronaldo.

But the Hearts' defender, above, stresses that he treats every opponent the same way.

Goncalves, 24, has been on the fringes of the Portuguese national team and was called up for the initial squad of 34 for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Malta.

With his national team facing a World Cup play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina later this month, Goncalves has not given up hope of playing in the finals in South Africa next summer.

The highlight of his career so far is rubbing shoulders with Ronaldo at international squad training.

He said: "I was twice with the full squad last season and playing against the best player in the world.

"If you do well against him you know you can be happy with yourself. You know you have to keep doing that and it is a good motivation.

"When you play against somebody like that, you are happy for yourself as you can train against the best player.

"But when I am on the pitch against any team, I always try to do my job and I don't think whether I'm up against Ronaldo or a lesser player it will be an easier job."

Goncalves admits Portugal's World Cup hopes are on a knife-edge.

He added: "We are under pressure, if Portugal does not make it to the World Cup it will be a very big disappointment.

"We live for football in Portugal and it is a very big surprise that they have lost so many points and are struggling for qualification. But we believe we will go to the World Cup."

Goncalves knows his performance in the Co-op Cup win over Celtic in midweek can only help his bid for a regular place in the Portugal squad.

But he insists he is only focused on domestic matters at present and sinking Hibs in Saturday's derby.

He said: "A derby is a special game. You can't treat it as a normal game, it's more a battle.

"You don't try to play nice football and, if we have to battle for 90 minutes, then that's the way we'll play."

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