Quaresma Blasts Portugal: What Have They Won? Midfield Was Awful

Portugal's elimination by Spain in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup did not sit well with Ricardo Quaresma. The former popular footballer, now part of the Portuguese streaming platform "LiveMode"'s World Cup team, sharply criticized the national team's performance. He even did so in a direct conversation with "the Navigators'" defender Ruben Dias during a post-match interview.

"Everyone said this was the best team in Portugal's history, but in what sense? What have they won? We're going home with our heads down. In midfield, we have great players, a lot of talent, but they were very, very poor at this World Cup. The same happened with the attack, and the defense was disoriented. It's best I stop here, because otherwise I'll say things I'll regret later," began the former international, who earned 80 caps for Portugal.

"Nothing worked from start to finish. Everything went wrong. We handed the game to Spain – they did whatever they wanted. We were walking around the pitch, we were slow, we had no desire whatsoever," he added, also being quite critical of Roberto Martinez, who has already announced his departure from the Portuguese national team.

Minutes later, after the mixed zone, the usual post-match interview took place. Ruben Dias, one of Portugal's captains, stood before the cameras. "I felt we were progressing; the match against Croatia wasn't perfect, but it was an important test. For me, this was the best game I've played against Spain," the City player defended himself.

However, Quaresma disagreed: "I don't agree with you, Ruben. This team should have performed much better. You have world-class players and enough quality to beat Spain. What I saw today was too many backward and sideways passes, too much possession without attempts to break their lines or even take a shot.

Apart from Nuno Mendes' chance and a header in the dying minutes, you created almost nothing. Possession alone doesn't win matches. You have players like Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, and Francisco Conceição who can beat defenders in one-on-one situations. You need to utilize those qualities more."

To this, Ruben Dias responded, with both maintaining a respectful tone: "You've been in football long enough to understand that building a national team isn't that simple. Spain has a unified football identity. Their players grow up with the same philosophy. In Portugal, we have incredible individual players, but not the same collective foundation. Good football isn't just about dribbling or attacking every open space. It's also about controlling the game, retaining possession, and finding a balance."

Ultimately, the two found common ground and shook hands. "You need to make the most of your teammates' qualities..." Quaresma noted. "I agree..." Ruben Dias replied, after which their discussion concluded.