Martínez: Portugal 'starts the second World Cup' after beating Croatia

Roberto Martínez, Portugal's coach, declared that his team "starts the second World Cup" after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Croatia in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Goncalo Ramos scored the decisive goal in the 94th minute, securing Portugal's advancement to face Spain.

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Tomorrow we start the second World Cup, with the players very hungry and eager.

Martínez highlighted the "intensity, pride, and effort with heart" displayed by his players. He noted that the team needed humility, patience, and collective suffering to overcome Croatia. "Suffering together is what ultimately strengthens us to believe and grow," he stated, emphasizing this as the key to advancing in such a demanding tournament.

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Suffering together is what ultimately strengthens us to believe and grow. That is the key if we want to keep advancing in such a demanding tournament.

The match also marked a poignant moment for veterans Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40, likely marking the end of their World Cup careers. Martínez described them as "icons of the sport" whose age is just a number, serving as an inspiration to younger players. He particularly lauded Modric's enduring skill and impact on football history.

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Age is just a number.

Looking ahead to the match against Spain, Martínez acknowledged the psychological advantage of teams that have already won a World Cup. "We gained a lot internally today," he said. "We are more prepared after the match than before it, but step by step, we respect Spain."

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When we talk about Luka Modric, we are talking about a player who puts his foot on the ball and makes a decision. He has had a great career, he has been an example for many children and will be in the history of football.