Martinez coy on future as he plots World Cup triumph for Portugal

Roberto Martinez, Portugal's head coach, deflected questions about his future beyond the upcoming World Cup, labeling the speculation as 'old news.' While acknowledging his contract concludes after the tournament, Martinez stressed his sole focus is on "finishing the work we have started three-and-a-half-years ago" and guiding the team to a World Cup triumph.

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This is not news, we have talked about this a lot in Portugal. The most important thing is to focus on winning the World Cup.

The Portuguese squad faces a setback as center-back Ruben Dias will be unavailable for their Group K opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Martinez explained that Dias has not fully recovered from a knock sustained in a friendly match and that the team will not risk him at this stage of the competition, prioritizing his fitness for future games. However, the team will be bolstered by the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to participate in his sixth World Cup.

Martinez lauded Ronaldo's enduring intensity and dedication, stating, "It is his sixth World Cup, but it feels like his first one when it comes to the intensity with which he works." He described Ronaldo as a role model and an essential striker capable of creating opportunities for his teammates. The coach anticipates a challenging match against Congo, recognizing their physical prowess and quick transitions.

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Medically we need him to be at 100 per cent for a World Cup match and that is how we will proceed. It is about not taking risks at this stage of the tournament.

"We need to match the emotions of Congo. If you win by one goal, it is just OK, if you draw it is a catastrophe, and if you lose it is the end of the world," Martinez cautioned, drawing parallels to Cape Verde's surprising draw against Spain. He emphasized the need for his team to be prepared for a tough encounter.

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He is a role model, he is an iconic player in global football for athletes, male and female, who love football. It is his sixth World Cup, but it feels like his first one when it comes to the intensity with which he works.

Captain Bruno Fernandes shared that the team is playing with the memory of their former teammate Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away last year. Fernandes described Jota as a "great teammate, very down to earth, very passionate about what he could do for our country and football as a whole." He affirmed that Jota remains an integral part of the team's spirit during the World Cup.

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We need to match the emotions of Congo. If you win by one goal, it is just OK, if you draw it is a catastrophe, and if you lose it is the end of the world.