Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has praised the enhanced depth, competitiveness, and preparation of his team following their success in Euro 2024. In their latest match against Poland, Portugal maintained their perfect start in the Nations League with a comfortable victory.
Portugal demonstrated their dominance over Poland as Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo scored to give them a 2-0 lead at halftime. Although Poland’s Piotr Zielinski managed to pull one back, an own goal by Jan Bednarek secured a 3-1 win for the visitors.
After their quarter-final exit in the European Championship, where they were defeated in a penalty shootout by France, Martinez emphasized that the team is now fully focused on building towards the World Cup in 2026.
“We now have a larger pool of players, which has increased competitiveness and improved our overall preparation as a team after the European Championship,” Martinez stated during an interview with RTP3.
“The World Cup is our primary objective. I am delighted with the incredible attitude shown by the players and their fantastic personality, especially considering the challenging stadium conditions. This performance holds great significance for us.”
“We aim to prevent conceding goals, and the team’s performance was highly commendable. We are witnessing the emergence of new talents, with fresh players seamlessly integrating into the squad.”
Portugal continues to dominate in League A Group One, leading with nine points and holding a three-point advantage over Croatia.
Since taking charge of Portugal in January 2023, Martinez has faced criticism for excessively relying on star player Ronaldo. However, during the match against Poland, he substituted the 39-year-old forward in the 63rd minute.
“It holds significance as part of our player management strategy, especially considering the two games within a span of 72 hours,” Martinez explained.
“Diogo Jota made an excellent impact after coming on as a substitute. It is crucial to utilize the talented players we have on the bench. Cristiano is in perfect form at the moment.”
The Spanish coach also introduced several new faces, with Renato Veiga and Samuel Costa making their debuts against Poland. Veiga, who joined Chelsea in July, played as a central defender alongside Ruben Dias, while surprise call-up Costa, a midfielder from Mallorca, entered the field during stoppage time to replace Silva.
“Renato Veiga demonstrates a high level of maturity and assertiveness. In my opinion, the rapport and bond he shares with Ruben Dias were commendable,” Martinez expressed. “We are referring to a match involving one of the most exceptional players in the penalty area in contemporary football, Robert Lewandowski. Considering this fact, his debut becomes even more significant. “I am delighted with Samu, Francisco Trincao, and all the fresh recruits who exhibited remarkable dedication. They have proven themselves as integral members of the team.”
