Roberto Martínez's Casualties

Roberto Martínez should never have been appointed as the national team coach.

Fernando Gomes, then president of the Portuguese Football Federation, was at the peak of his power and influence, and no one publicly questioned such a bizarre choice. Without exaggeration, there are at least 30 Portuguese coaches better than him.

In January 2023, during Roberto Martínez's presentation, Fernando Gomes revealed the reason for Fernando Santos's departure: "After a World Cup where we felt we could have gone further (...) Portugal can and should always be in contention for major competitions, and that means, at least, reaching the semi-finals."

The football industry is the only one that hasn't been swayed by ideas of equality, diversity, or green agendas. Meritocracy remains the sole criterion.

The best team he had ever managed was Everton. He had won an FA Cup and a third-tier English league title.

The emperor has no clothes. In Hans Christian Andersen's tale, published almost 200 years ago, two swindlers convinced the king they would make the finest suit in the world, invisible to the ignorant. The parade began, and everyone praised it until a young child cried out that the king was naked, and everyone realized the deception. In Portugal, that child would have been silenced.

Pedro Proença maintained the objective. Since the match against DR Congo, he openly supported Roberto Martínez, even though his non-involvement in the hiring process would have advised caution and distance.

In football, blame never dies alone—it always falls on the coach.

The coach is, by far, the most important element in a football team. The president's most crucial decision is their choice.

In the World Cup qualifiers, there was a late scare. We failed to beat Hungary in Alvalade (2-2), making the match against Ireland in Dublin our second chance to qualify—we lost 0-2. In the final game, at the Dragão, against Armenia, we won 9-1 under immense pressure. Why do we always leave everything to the last minute in Portugal? Because the next day, it's no longer possible.

With the announcement of the 26 selected players, the scandalous omission of Palhinha, the inexplicable absence of Ricardo Horta, and the inclusion of four right-backs on the list, the first public criticisms emerged.

Martínez's idea was to have two groups of players: one to play and another to make up the numbers (with a happy face).

After the first game, the digital mob dedicated itself to lynching the players. Even going to the beach became a central topic, a surprising fact for anyone who occasionally dines on the Costa de Caparica and almost always sees players taking a dip on the eve of decisive matches—which they win.

If the coach were Jorge Jesus, José Mourinho, or Sérgio Conceição, conspiracy theories wouldn't exist. Even with Martínez, they have no basis. He's the one making these strange decisions—for example, preferring Rafael Leão against a compact defense instead of Trincão, who scores goals and breaks through in an area defended by ten opponents.

Had DR Congo known how to counter-attack, we would have lost.

While the qualification phase might seem easy when players arrive flying high from the world's best teams, will Martínez be capable of preparing for a competition where training is solely the responsibility of his technical staff?

Is this lukewarm, exasperating style of play a deliberate choice or a manifestation of incompetence? One day, there will be a rule change penalizing endless ball possession in dead zones of the field, as sports like basketball and handball have done.

There isn't a single Portuguese who believes Cristiano doesn't have a place in the National Team. We only differ on his usage, and only Martínez thinks he should play the full 90 minutes.

João Neves was the best against DR Congo, and Tomás Araújo took on responsibilities beyond his own.

João Neves isn't the typical Portuguese, as he always seems to be in a good mood.

He left his parents' home in the Algarve at a very young age to live at Benfica's academy in Seixal. He suffered the loss of his mother. Always running and always with a smile.

In 1988, I watched a league match at the old Estádio das Antas. Shéu, Benfica's captain, was playing his last career game that day. He was substituted, and all the FC Porto fans stood up and applauded. With João Neves, it would be the same; everyone genuinely likes him.

At 22, he has already won two Champions Leagues and three national championships. In the Nations League, after winning his first Champions League with PSG, without any complaints, he played as a right-back.

Tomás Araújo and Renato Veiga formed an improbable central defensive partnership in the first World Cup match. Together, they had a total of 18 international caps and an average age of 23.

In the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Euros, the three main central defenders were Pepe, Rúben Dias, and Danilo Pereira. In 2022, they had an average age of 31 and 77 international caps; in Euro 2024, 33 years and 89 international caps.

Portugal defends corners in an inconceivable manner, with few players in the box. Young Tomás Araújo, bravely taking on responsibilities that weren't his, protected the coaching staff and Diogo Costa (the header was in the six-yard box).

"We are what we do," said Father António Vieira. Portugal will beat Uzbekistan but will hardly win the World Cup.

We only lose if we deprive children of the joy of experiencing a World Cup—with or without stickers.

If things don't go well sportingly, the coach will be to blame. Fortunately, it has always been this way and always will be.

For sadness, the world we live in is already enough.