Anticipated Final, Midfield Control, and "Personality": Everything Roberto Martínez Said

- Did Portugal intentionally aim for second place to face European teams?

- Unfortunately, no, that theory doesn't make sense. We want to win every game. When we arrived, the goal was to grow significantly and use the matches to prepare everyone. The idea was to win all games and top the group, but the World Cup doesn't always work that way. It's about improving, experimenting with aspects, aligning concepts, and as I've said, you can't choose your path. You have to give your best on the path you're given, and now we're focused on the Round of 16.

- You'll be playing against your own people. How do you manage that personally?

- My situation is different because I've never worked in Spain. It seems incredible, but I lived 21 years in the UK, 21 years in Spain, 7 years in Belgium, and three and a half years in Portugal. My home is where my family is and where my mission lies. For me, it's about being very close to the players, understanding what the National Team represents, and appreciating the support we received in Toronto – it was incredible, almost half a million Portuguese in Canada. The strength was amazing. It means a lot, and as a national coach, it's an incredible source of pride, fully focused on the sentiment our National Team embodies.

- Spain hasn't conceded a single goal yet...

- We have immense respect for our opponent. Spain is a very, very good team with a clear philosophy. We are both teams that excel with the ball; we need to defend with possession to highlight our players' quality. However, it's crucial to have complete performances. We need to be strong without the ball, defend quickly, and execute transitions, as we saw in the Nations League final. The 2-2 result was a narrow one, and tomorrow will be similar. We need personality to maintain our level and high intensity, and to utilize the entire squad. Freshness is key, and players coming off the bench must contribute to sustain the level of play both teams possess.

- Is it out of the question to play with both Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos?

- We need to consider the opponent, but also the moments within the game. The first half against Croatia was excellent, but when you're superior and the opponent scores, that's when we needed to shift dynamics. It was important to have two strikers to threaten the goal and pressure their center-backs. After we scored, it became a different game. Croatia is also a team that uses the ball well, and we needed to adjust in midfield. We couldn't afford to be outnumbered. Regarding game moments, the opponent, and what we're looking for, the key is for players to add value. We have a lot of flexibility; the team can use attacking patterns with two strikers, one, three number 10s, inverted wingers, players in central positions. This was work we did for three and a half years; it would be a weakness to limit our game to a single offensive pattern or tactical aspect. Our strength is our flexibility, and all players are prepared. Twenty-one have already played, and I believe Inácio and Guedes can also help the team.

- Will Portugal appear more confident or more cautious after these four matches?

- In a World Cup journey, it's crucial to look forward to the next opponent. What we did against DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia, and Croatia were steps that helped us grow. Diogo Costa is in fantastic form; we need him. The important thing is that the team knows how to suffer, maintain its level until the end, and that helps immensely for playing in the Round of 16. We are here to perform at Portugal's best level in the Round of 16, not specifically to face Spain. That was the path we took. Every game is different, but we are better prepared to be at our best level than when we arrived in Houston.

- Can we expect any changes to the starting XI? Vitinha or Bruno Fernandes?

- First, let me say that the players you're mentioning are very important to us. It's not about discussing a player's departure; that's not how we operate. It's about what a player can add. All our players, as I've said, are incredible in their commitment to the National Team, and we must leverage that. Playing against Spain is not the same as playing against Colombia. Croatia is also a team that likes possession, but we need to adjust what can help our players make a difference. That's the idea we're sticking with, and we need to execute it during the game. All players trained well this morning and are fully prepared.

- What needs to be replicated to emerge victorious? And will you review the Nations League game?

- No, we're focused on what we did in the last game and in this World Cup; I think this context is more relevant. Spain has a similar playing philosophy, and that makes sense, but with different players. It's not about the tactical aspect, but rather the personality to be comfortable with the importance of the game and to be ourselves. We have a spectacular opponent, but the most important thing is to remember what we can do and have the personality to enjoy the moment, because being in the World Cup Round of 16 deserves that.

- When two national teams are very similar, how do the plans change?

- When we prepare for the World Cup, we prepare for the three group stage matches, focusing solely on those opponents. Then you enter another phase, a do-or-die situation, and you prepare your team more. The opponent is highly respected, because to reach this stage, they must be a competitive team. We are two brother nations; it's a celebration of Iberian football. It's a shame the game is at this level… it would be a fantastic final, but it's more about looking at your own locker room.

- Luis de la Fuente said he'd like the final to be against Portugal, especially since you're friends.

- The respect is entirely mutual. Of course, it's a game of great importance because we are two teams with very similar philosophies; we need possession, and we've built two teams around individual talent. It's beautiful, and it's a shame it's not the final, but it is what it is. Luis wants to play all eight games, and so do we, and unfortunately, one of the teams won't achieve their goal. Tomorrow is a players' game, where it's truly a privilege to be in this position, and I believe our role, both mine and the coach's, is to provide strength and joy amidst the pressure of winning such an important match.

- What have you learned in these last 25 years of your career? How has the experience and evolution been?

- That's the magic of football. I've never sat back and looked behind me. A coach is only as good as the players he coaches. The game is the biggest challenge you face; the players are the solutions, and you have to try to find a structure for individual talent. That's how you develop as a coach. The ideas are the same: you always want competitive teams, to give them structure, but also to have individual talent to make a difference in the final third. Nothing has changed, but it has been a great evolution, and now I am extremely proud to be here and be the coach of Portugal with this big game tomorrow.

- You mentioned you didn't have the opportunity to work in Spain. Could you have had a chance?

- I had opportunities, but I believe that in a coach's career… timing is crucial. I like to close cycles, and it wasn't the right moment, so I don't view it as leaving home with the passion to play football. After coaching, I did that in the UK; it's part of my journey, and I'm a very curious person, but it was my passion for football that gave me the opportunity to be in different countries. I am very proud of the path I've taken; I never dwell on what I didn't achieve. It's more about thoroughly enjoying what I can work on.

- What kind of performance do you expect from your midfield, from Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes?

- Tomorrow isn't just a demanding game for the midfielders, but for everyone. We need to defend very well one-on-one, hold our ground, and make good decisions in midfield. We're talking about the Round of 16; it will be demanding for everyone. I see the players calm, confident, but also focused. That's perfect for a national coach. It's about giving them peace of mind for the next 24 hours.

- Rodri stated that Spain has the best midfield in the world.

- That technical ability to maintain possession gives the midfield a lot of prominence, and Spain managed to win their first title that way in 2008 [Euros], a very important period [World Cup and another Euros in 2012], and it's rooted in that technical capacity of their midfielders. We focus on our own, and the truth is that Portugal, with 10 million inhabitants, is an example in the development of the players we have, players who are in the most important clubs in Europe, and we are very proud of the players we have.

- When you're close to your goal, what goes through your mind?

- Strength comes with victories. In a World Cup, the values of the group are measured: the players' commitment, their capacity for self-criticism, and their readiness in difficult moments. Teams don't arrive at the World Cup as champions; that doesn't exist. A team arrives, and within that individual dynamic, it has the best players from your country, committed to working through difficult moments. We've had those moments; the team never broke, always had a positive reaction, and we are growing with every game. Winning tomorrow is the best formula to continue growing.

- This is the World Cup where stars shine. Do Ronaldo and Yamal have similarities?

- Completely different players. We're talking about a young player who shows he has the ability to carry the pressure of the entire team and make things happen when there's little else going on. With Ronaldo, we're talking about an iconic figure of the game itself; his longevity speaks for itself. They are in completely different positions, but they share the ability to influence moments that win games. They are at completely different stages of their careers.