Martinez defends Ronaldo's World Cup presence despite draw

Portugal's coach Roberto Martínez defended his decision to keep veteran Cristiano Ronaldo on the field for the full 90 minutes of their 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Martínez insisted that Ronaldo, 41, was not judged by his age but by his physical sensations and the team's need for goals. "In a match like this, when you need goals, you need Cristiano on the field," the Spanish coach explained at a press conference. Despite Ronaldo's presence, Portugal, who had taken an early lead, could not secure a victory. The team's performance drew criticism, with Martínez acknowledging areas for improvement. He noted that the early goal, rather than providing confidence, had a contrary effect, leading to a loss of verticality and opportunities for Congo on the counterattack. The coach also drew parallels to past World Cups, recalling how Argentina lost their debut match in 2022 before winning the tournament, and Spain in 2010 did the same. He stressed the need for self-criticism and improvement following the disappointing result. The Democratic Republic of Congo, returning to the World Cup after a 52-year absence, had a significant chance to win in the second half when Cedric Bakambu hit the post.