Portugal will approach knockouts like a 'second World Cup,' says Martinez

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez declared his team will treat the knockout stage of the tournament as a "second World Cup." The team faces Croatia in the round of 32 on Thursday in Toronto.

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Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup, the preparation was very important.

Portugal finished second in Group K after drawing with DR Congo and Colombia, and a 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Martinez described the group stage matches as "difficult" and emphasized the importance of preparation for the upcoming knockout phase.

Martinez acknowledged the strength of their opponent, Croatia, noting their past success as runners-up in 2018 and third-place finishers in 2022. "Croatia is a team we know very well. They also know our strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match," he stated.

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Croatia is a team we know very well. They also know our strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match.

Addressing concerns about Cristiano Ronaldo playing the full 90 minutes in the last group game, Martinez asserted that all players are prepared to contribute, whether starting or from the bench. He praised both Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40, as sports icons whose age is secondary to their performance and leadership.

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What’s important is that all the players are ready to play for the team - whether in the starting lineup ... or on the bench.

The match carries emotional weight for Portugal as it precedes the anniversary of teammate Diogo Jota's death. Midfielder Vitinha expressed that honoring Jota's memory will be a significant motivation for the team to advance to the last 16. "We have all the motivation to win tomorrow... for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal," he said.

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People talk about age, but age is just a number. What matters is what they do and the example they set in the locker room.