The national team is split in two

The real World Cup starts now. In the warm-up, Portugal wasn't at its best and enters the race from a less-than-ideal position. It's nothing to be overly concerned about just yet. After all, the finish line is, hopefully, still a long way off. The problem is that the initial tests were far from convincing, and time is now running out to fine-tune the machine.

With the exception of Uzbekistan, a Formula 2-level team, the national side left much to be desired, revealing that something has to change. Whether against the low block of the DR Congo or the aggression of Colombia, what I saw was a team split in two. This is something I never thought possible before this World Cup in the Americas began.

I placed Portugal among the favorites to win the World Cup, alongside the highly mechanized and reigning European champions Spain, who stick to their unique identity, and the formidable France, who possess a phenomenal attack—any manager's dream. The Portuguese national team, on the other hand, has the best midfield in the world, with the trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes promising to dominate any game.

It's clear that for me, this group stage was a disappointment. But, of course, everything can change in an instant. I even believe Portugal could match up well against a veteran Croatia, as well as Spain, in the predictable and hoped-for round of 16, just as we saw in the last Nations League, which we won.

It's Roberto Martínez's choices that I struggle to understand. I'm not questioning his selections—my 26-man squad and the manager's only differed by two players: Tomás Araújo and Samu Costa; I would have taken António Silva and Palhinha. Everyone has their own ideas, and often the difference lies more in a player's profile than their quality. What worries me is the way the national team plays; I find it very difficult to grasp the strategy.

I won't get into the debate about whether Cristiano Ronaldo should always play, especially since it seems certain he will. What I don't understand is why the forward isn't better supported. The midfield, the so-called best in the world, needs to be closer to the captain, both in attacking transitions—CR7's game-changing solo runs are a thing of the past—and in defense. It's inconceivable that the manager asked Bruno Fernandes to press the entire central channel against a battalion of Colombians, wearing him out. Not to mention that the most aggressive and dynamic midfielder, João Neves, started the last game on the bench.

Roberto Martínez could well bring Bernardo Silva back into the starting lineup, allowing the team to set up in a 4-4-2. The new Real Madrid signing would join the usual midfield trio, and João Félix could play in his preferred position, just behind the striker. This would also be a way to rest Bruno Fernandes, even if it means sacrificing him to cover the left flank, while simultaneously asking two of the world's best full-backs, João Cancelo and Nuno Mendes, to do what they do best: constantly attack the wings.

I've also been impressed with the refereeing at the World Cup. The quality of the officials and the rare interventions from VAR have been noteworthy. VAR was created to correct clear and obvious errors. Nothing more. This is a stark contrast to what happens in Portugal, where every match is a soap opera. Now, I'm starting to understand why. Refereeing continues to be a police matter.

The resignation of the Technical Director of Refereeing, Duarte Gomes, following a clash with the President of the Refereeing Council, Luciano Gonçalves, and due to suspicions of interference in referee appointments for league matches, could be a real shake-up. For now, the FPF has referred the reported facts to the Public Prosecutor's Office. It remains to be seen what Pedro Proença will say. As for Duarte Gomes, congratulations are in order. Thank you for your courage.