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Mexico and West Ham striker Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is reluctant to set limits on what success at Russia 2018 would look like for El Tri. Mexico has stumbled at the round of 16 stage of each of the last six World Cups, but that doesn't mean the 29-year-old would settle for a quarterfinal finish next summer. "We are not only aiming for the quarterfinals. We don't want to set a limit on our ambitions," Hernandez told West Ham's official website. "We want to aim as high as we can because we know we have the potential. Every team in the World Cup has a chance and we want to do our best ever, to get to the final and even win the World Cup." Hernandez said that getting out of a group containing reigning World Cup holders Germany, South Korea and Sweden will be complicated, but that Mexico's preparation in the month ahead of the tournament will be crucial to El Tri's chances. The former Chivas striker has had a difficult period at West Ham since David Moyes took over in November, with Hernandez limping out of Mexico's Nov. 10 friendly against Belgium with a hamstring injury and not returning to the field for West Ham until Dec. 16. Since then, the Mexican hasn't started a Premier League game, with Andy Carroll netting twice in the 2-1 comeback victory over West Brom on Tuesday. "The last month or two has been more difficult, first because I was injured and then because I've not been as involved as I wanted to be, obviously, but it was a great year overall," said Hernandez. Despite the difficult end to 2017 on the field, Hernandez stated he has been "very, very happy" off the field and in his personal life. Hernandez will be hoping to start for West Ham when Moyes' side travels across London to face Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.
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