The selector of PortugalRoberto Martínez, celebrated his team’s classification to the round of 16 of the World after winning 2-1 against Croatia in Toronto, a victory that, he said, reflected the personality and character of the Seleção in a match that he considered loaded with symbolism.
Croatia took the lead on the scoreboard with a goal from Ivan Perisic at the beginning of the second half, but Portugal reacted with a penalty converted by Cristiano Ronaldo and completed the comeback in added time thanks to Gonçalo Ramos. A goal by Josko Gvardiol in the final moments was disallowed for offside, sealing the Portuguese’s passage to the next round.
Martínez explained that the plan was to approach that match as the start of the “real World Cup” and highlighted the response of his players after finding themselves at a disadvantage. “We had personality. We conceded a goal and we continued. It is a very special team,” he stated, in addition to being satisfied with the group’s attitude and ensuring that everyone was prepared to contribute, even after the substitution of Cristiano Ronaldo in the final stretch.
The Spanish coach also valued his team’s football performance. He considered that Portugal dominated the first half by neutralizing Croatia’s possession and play generation, while in the second half physical wear and tear forced the team to adapt to a different context. In that sense, he praised his players’ ability to change the approach, take advantage of the depth of the squad and carry out a demanding match.
Beyond the result, Martínez assured that the day was surrounded by “many signs.” He recalled that the qualification came practically on the first anniversary of the death of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, that Croatia was the last team against which Jota scored with Portugal and that the 2-1 victory coincided with the number 21 worn by the forward. “There are many signs, but I think we deserved the victory,” he said.
Now, Portugal will face Spain in the round of 16, a duel that will repeat the 2025 UEFA Nations League final, won by the Portuguese in the penalty shootout. Martínez predicted a high-level match between two teams that prioritize ball control and offensive creation. Although he acknowledged that Spain starts with a certain psychological advantage due to its status as world champion, he stressed that Portugal has grown internally during the tournament and arrives with confidence to compete for a place in the quarterfinals.
