Portugal coach Roberto Martínez refused to confirm whether Cristiano Ronaldo he will keep his starting position for Tuesday FIFA World Cup match against Uzbekistan, after the superstar’s underwhelming performance in the team’s opening match.“I can’t inform you about the starting 11 because I haven’t informed my players,” Martínez said on Monday when asked if Ronaldo would remain in the lineup.The 41-year-old striker failed to find the back of the net in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Congo, a match in which he had limited influence and missed several key chances during the second half. His performance quickly became a talking point, with television pundits and social media users questioning his finish and why he wasn’t substituted as Portugal looked for a breakthrough.
Martínez defends the team amid “noise and tension”
Martínez, however, dismissed suggestions that external criticism is affecting the team, insisting that such pressure is part of the World Cup environment.“We’re playing a World Cup, so of course we have a lot of noise and tension, but it’s part of the game,” he said. “The focus is on the team and we want to show a positive attitude … to be ready for the match. We are very focused. We are strong. The team is even more united than before.”Although not directly addressing Ronaldo, the Portugal coach also pushed back against the intensity of criticism aimed at individuals.“Some of the criticism is ‘unfair, it’s unfair,'” he added.Ronaldo, who did not speak to reporters after the match, later posted on social media: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Head and focus on the next game.” He followed up with images of the training accompanied by the caption: “Focused on the mission.”
Ronaldo’s role under scrutiny ahead of key clash
Despite only registering 25 touches in the opener, Ronaldo remains central to Portugal’s tactical discussion. Martínez insisted that the veteran forward still brings decisive value in the final third.“Cristiano is the best to do this,” he said. “The numbers support this of this iconic player that is Cristiano Ronaldo. If you look at the past 32 games, he is the player who has extra movement, opens spaces and finds pockets.”Meanwhile, Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro has warned against underestimating the Portuguese captain despite his quiet start.“We have to be careful when we’re in the box because we can’t leave this type of player alone,” Cannavaro said. “We need to be very focused on him because Cristiano can score in any situation, free kicks, even in the corner. So we have to be very careful.”