Martínez Praises Suárez: «Colombia is one of the best teams in transition»

National team coach Roberto Martínez previewed Friday's clash against Colombia, a match counting for the third and final round of the 2026 World Cup group stage.

«In a tournament like the World Cup, there's no single right path or position. Our focus is on respecting Colombia. Critics? We've had time to address the noise. The focus is on concentration and responsibility to perform at our best. It was very positive in the second game, scoring the first goal and continuing that momentum. We couldn't do that in the first game. The psychological aspect in the World Cup is crucial. This will probably be our first away game in this World Cup. It will be a good challenge to feel that we can control the game and our emotions,» he stated during the press conference, highlighting the qualities of Sporting's Colombian forward, Luis Suárez.

«Colombia is a team that believes in what they do. They already have clear ideas. The players operate within a defined philosophy. They play with possession, and they are one of the best teams in transition, with Luis Suárez and Luis Díaz. Luis Suárez's finishing is also a key asset. But there are other players who can contribute similarly. It's not about whether Luis Suárez plays or not. Managing the locker room and the physical aspect is important,» he added.