A Glaring Void in the National Team's Midfield

It's easy to comment in hindsight, you might say. But this isn't a new issue; it's been raised countless times before, even here. This isn't about destabilizing an already unstable situation, nor does it offer much to those who must remain impartial, regardless of their personal feelings on a topic. Constructive criticism isn't bound by timing; it's an obligation. And opinion, for those who don't know and protest without understanding, is a journalistic genre.

The conclusion drawn—even after a Nations League triumph, earned deservedly but against opponents whose strength naturally reduced the team's positional attacking moments, transforming Portugal into a transition-based side—is that Portugal has shown little to no evolution in its tactical model since Roberto Martínez took charge. If, from a footballing perspective, he was hired specifically for his offensive football prowess, to elevate the national team beyond its recent past, it's precisely here that little has changed.

I won't delve into beach trips, or Caesar's wife needing to be beyond reproach, or the supposed lack of attitude often thrown into the debate. Nor will I discuss the alleged climate adaptation nearly three months ago, during matches against Mexico and the United States. I'll give the benefit of the doubt that scientific justifications might exist for such things. What seems far less explicable is the persistent 1x4x0x6 formation throughout the entire match, a setup that no one from the bench managed to correct.

Portugal abandoned the half-spaces, forgetting they existed, even as they tried to press the channels between defenders—full-back and center-back, and between center-backs—through Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano, Bernardo, and João Neves at times. Watching the game unfold, with vertical passes proving too risky for the defense or Vitinha, Congo had the match under control. They simply needed to be patient and avoid unnecessary risks.

What was the point of designing a theoretical midfield triangle (without Bernardo) or a square (with Bernardo) when these players spent most of their time far apart? They were unable to combine, to create positional rotations. With no one in the half-spaces and facing a rival midfield that was heavily populated, the vertical pass became an excessively high risk. Ball carrying was also problematic. Tomás didn't take chances. Renato Veiga doesn't even have that argument. Possession was high in percentage but utterly sterile.

When Portugal tried to lay siege, or at least design one, they froze. They only attempted combinations to free up the winger on the right, hoping for a cross, but everyone in the box was already anticipating the pass—the same on the left, with Neto and then Rafael Leão going for one-on-ones. Only once did the African side get caught out by a cut-back, but Ronaldo's blind hunger prevented a certain goal for Bruno Fernandes. There was a lack of incisive runs to surprise or drag markers away; everyone was looking to get into a finishing position, and consequently, everyone was marked. And if you attack poorly positionally, you also defend poorly. Even set pieces seemed too simple and ineffective for a team with a specialist in that area.

We arrive at Cristiano Ronaldo. The captain is not the solution, and that alone makes him a problem. He's not the only one, as we all know. And this isn't a World Cup issue; it's been ongoing for a long time. His goals used to compensate for his defensive passivity, but now he's not scoring and he's hindering the entire attack. Mentally, with teammates wanting to serve him even when better options exist, but also appearing as an alien body within the offensive process. He's started missing easy chances. Several due to bad luck. Others because his body no longer allows him to reach the ball as quickly (and, as such, balanced) as before, whether for a pass or a shot.

Martínez saw this and understood that even with João Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Neto, Bernardo Silva, and the full-backs appearing on the wings, Portugal had a width problem. And the void extended to the bench. Ronaldo, even playing poorly, remained on the field. "It made no sense to take him off, the all-time leading scorer, when we were looking for goals," the coach justified, stating what everyone knows: he's on the field out of gratitude, not for his current performance. Because he hasn't scored in ten matches in the knockout stages of major tournaments. The numbers are stark. Unyielding.

It would indeed be logical, using Martínez's own expression, to bring in a different forward into the starting eleven. Gonçalo Ramos isn't in great form, but he fits better into the associative football desired and assigns greater responsibility for positional rotation and creation to the playmakers. Plus, he can contribute to structured pressing, which is absent with Ronaldo. There's also Guedes, even more mobile, needing some space to explode, who could make sense alongside Ramos in certain phases. João Félix could also play there, favoring frontal support, but Martínez, though he may not realize it, needs him for what's lacking behind, in the half-spaces. Not understanding this is a serious oversight.

Portugal will qualify, especially in this scenario where third-placed teams advance. Not qualifying would be the biggest scandal in our history. It's also likely to improve—not from Cristiano's perspective, but from the rest of the attack—when the space that better teams create by taking more risks appears. However, this increases the reliance on offensive transitions.

P.S. At this point, it seems to be an open secret and remains concerning. This triangle, set to invert so everything stays the same, with Jorge Jesus replacing Roberto Martínez in the national team and Martínez replacing Jesus at Al Nassr, is once again tailored to Ronaldo. And to the Federation, for the millions it receives in sponsorships. Will football once again take a backseat?