Ronaldo and Gonçalo Ramos together against Spain? Here's Martínez's response

Following captain Cristiano Ronaldo's address, it was Roberto Martínez's turn to preview the upcoming World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Spain. He was questioned about the possibility of Portugal needing to play with two strikers, a scenario briefly seen against Croatia, which he admitted was a possibility, albeit unlikely from the start.

"We need to consider the opponent, but also the different phases of the game. The first half against Croatia was very good, but when you're on top and the opponent scores, that's when we needed to change the dynamic. It was important to have two strikers to threaten the goal and put pressure on their center-backs. After we scored, it became a different game. Croatia is also a team that uses the ball well, and we needed to adjust in midfield. We couldn't afford to be outnumbered," he explained during the press conference.

"Regarding the moments of the game, the opponent, and what we're looking for, the important thing is that the players contribute. We have a lot of flexibility; the team can use attacking patterns with two strikers, one, three number 10s, inside players, inverted wingers. This was work we did over three and a half years. It would be a weakness to limit our game to just one offensive pattern or tactical aspect. Our strength is the flexibility we possess, and all the players are prepared. 21 have already played, and I believe Inácio and Guedes can also help the team," he added, praising the opposition.

"We have immense respect for our opponents; Spain is a very, very good team with a clear philosophy. We are better teams with the ball, and we need to defend with the ball to highlight the quality of our players. However, it's crucial to have complete performances. We need to be effective without the ball, defend quickly, and execute transitions, as we saw in the Nations League final. The 2-2 scoreline was a tight result, and tomorrow will be no different. We need the character to maintain our level and high intensity, and to utilize the entire squad. Freshness is key, and the players from the bench need to contribute to sustain the level of play that both national teams possess," he stated.