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๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น Portugal /Sports

Portugal coach Martinez to leave after World Cup exit to Spain

From Pรบblico · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Portugal lost to Spain 1-0 in the World Cup last 16.
  • Coach Roberto Martinez announced his departure after the match, stating his contract expired and his goal of winning the World Cup was not met.
  • The defeat also signals a likely end to Cristiano Ronaldo's international career.

Portugal's World Cup journey concluded with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16, prompting manager Roberto Martinez to announce his departure from the role.

I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing.

โ€” Roberto MartinezThe Portugal manager explaining his decision to leave after the team's World Cup exit.

Martinez, who is Spanish, stated that his contract expired following the match and that his objective of winning the World Cup with Portugal had not been achieved. "I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and I think that, without winning it, there's no point in continuing," Martinez told reporters. He added that the football leadership now has the opportunity to select a new manager.

The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose the new manager... my contract ends today. There isn't much more to say.

โ€” Roberto MartinezMartinez confirming his departure after the match against Spain.

The loss is also widely expected to mark the end of Cristiano Ronaldo's illustrious international career. While Martinez did not directly comment on Ronaldo's future, he offered a heartfelt tribute to his captain. "A word of thanks, because he was an exemplary captain," Martinez said. "Not just in terms of goals โ€“ the statistics speak for themselves โ€“ but also in terms of assists. It's his day-to-day commitment, the way he lives and breathes football. He's an example and something we must celebrate."

A word of thanks, because he was an exemplary captain. Not just in terms of goals โ€“ the statistics speak for themselves โ€“ but also in terms of assists. It's his day-to-day commitment, the way he lives and breathes football. He's an example and something we must celebrate.

โ€” Roberto MartinezMartinez praising Cristiano Ronaldo after the World Cup exit.

Martinez reflected on the match, acknowledging that Portugal had competed well against a favored opponent but were ultimately undone by fine margins. "We showed courage in defence, we were aggressive, and we defended very well," he said. "But in the World Cup round of 16, it's the small details that matter."

We showed courage in defence, we were aggressive, and we defended very well. But in the World Cup round of 16, it's the small details that matter.

โ€” Roberto MartinezMartinez reflecting on the match against Spain.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Pรบblico in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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