Roberto Martinez: "We really needed this"

Portugal's head coach, Roberto Martinez, stated that the team's performance against Colombia will help them reach their desired level, calling the match a valuable test. Following the goalless draw, Martinez also highlighted the "Navigators'" strong character in keeping a clean sheet, praising goalkeeper Diogo Costa's fantastic display and the intensity of the defenders in front of him.

"We really needed this to steer the game in the direction we want. We need to have more possession and capitalize on the players who possess that ability. South American teams are accustomed to a fragmented game. I believe the team reacted well throughout the match. Now we need to improve and guide the game where we want it to be, which means having more ball possession and utilizing the individual talent we have. It was important for us to use many players; 22 have already played, and that's significant," Martinez said.

Regarding Cristiano Ronaldo, the coach explained why he once again kept him on the field for the full 90 minutes.

"It's very important for us to synchronize his movements with the other ten players. Cristiano is in good physical shape and performed very well today," Martinez added.

In the Round of 16, Portugal will face Croatia. This match is scheduled for Friday, July 3rd, at 2:00 AM Bulgarian time. This game, along with all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will be broadcast live on bnt.sportal.bg.