Portugal: The Same Dream, Two Narratives

On Friday, our national team set off for the 2026 World Cup. Back in Portugal, there's immense anticipation and hope that this could finally be our year.

It's hard to find a national team with as much quality and experience as this generation. Most of our squad members play outside Portugal for the biggest clubs in the world. They are accustomed to handling pressure week after week. They arrive at this World Cup with vast experience in major competitions and significant maturity, which could be crucial for overcoming the toughest moments of the tournament. To put it in perspective, eight of the 27 players called up by Roberto Martínez have already won the UEFA Champions League.

It's also important to consider the team's recent context. These are practically the same players who, last year, won the Nations League, defeating hosts Germany and a formidable Spain in the final. This victory brings several positive aspects. Firstly, it boosts confidence, credibility, and the certainty that we can assert ourselves against any opponent. Secondly, it commands respect from others. For all these reasons, we shouldn't shy away from being considered among the top contenders to win the competition.

The World Cup is every player's dream, but it's also a grueling test for everyone involved. This is due to the lack of vacation time and the fact that they spend a month, or more, together in training camp. This isn't an easy situation, as it can lead to physical and mental fatigue. Results can amplify negative aspects in case of losses, or mitigate them in case of victories.

Unfortunately, I've never been to a competition of this magnitude, so I can't speak from personal experience. Nevertheless, I've had the opportunity to hear testimonies from those who have been there and how they overcame the inherent fatigue and weariness of such a competition. Generally, those who have participated, whether successful or not, emphasize that unity is fundamental. It's crucial that everyone understands that the team is more important than the individual.

I believe that when selecting the squad, Roberto Martínez considered the team spirit and how the chosen players can and should interact with each other. It's important for the coaching staff and those responsible at the FPF to manage downtime effectively, ensuring everyone stays active and maintains a positive spirit.

Not everyone will play regularly. The important thing is for players to understand that everyone has a role in the group and is essential for success, regardless of the minutes they might get. It's also crucial that individual egos serve the group, not the other way around.

After three years with Martínez at the helm of our national team, we can't say we play football that matches the individual talent of our players. Currently, collectively, we are less than the sum of our individual parts. This means that, together, we could and should be better. We haven't yet found a collective identity that maximizes all the talent within this group. This isn't a criticism, merely an observation. However, it's important to note that this doesn't mean we can't succeed in this competition, as there are many ways to win.

Typically, we'd like to see a national team that plays controlling, offensive, more structured football, where individual talents shine brighter. We'd also like a national team that doesn't prioritize names, and where the coach fields the best players for each moment, based on the context and opponents. Here, I can't avoid mentioning our national team's biggest media name, who is no longer our primary footballing reference on the pitch: Ronaldo.

No one questions the Madeiran player's career. He is the greatest Portuguese player of all time and one of the best in history. Despite this, he is not eternal. At 41, his agility and reflexes are no longer the same. The question is: is he still useful for our national team? My answer is yes.

But to be useful, Ronaldo must understand where he stands today and recognize that he is no longer the player who single-handedly won games. He remains the biggest reference off the pitch, and that's also important because he attracts attention, draws pressure to himself, and somewhat frees everyone else. He can still be useful on the pitch, depending on specific contexts and opponents.

He doesn't have to play every game or every minute. For example, he can be decisive coming on in games when opponents are tired, and through the way he can energize the stadium. The essential thing is for him to grasp this perception. If he does, everyone will benefit.

Ronaldo has already broken many records and continues to chase many more. I have no doubt that a World Cup title would be more important than all the records he still pursues.

Despite being recognized as one of the teams with the most quality and capability, it's necessary to remain grounded. Rationally, it makes no sense to dream of the final or the title. For those involved, the focus and concentration should only be on the next game. If we think this way and do our job well, we will be ready and prepared for the next challenge, without ever underestimating any opponent.

If we look at World Cup history, many favored teams have fallen short. For this reason, setting a minimum objective doesn't seem to make sense to me. The FPF president's desire is immense, although his discourse has shifted slightly: we've gone from "we will win" to "the minimum objective is the semi-finals." I understand it's important to keep everyone engaged, ensuring demands are always at their maximum and there are no distractions.

What doesn't seem to make sense is for the president to have one discourse and the players and coach another. The question is whether this difference exists only in words. Because to succeed in a World Cup, everyone needs to be in sync, and there shouldn't be two different paths within the group and the FPF structure.