Portugal coach Roberto Martínez refused to confirm whether he would Cristiano Ronaldo will keep his starting spot for Tuesday FIFA World Cup clash against Uzbekistan, after a subdued performance by the superstar in the team’s opening game.“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 forward failed to score in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Congo, a game in which he had limited influence and missed several key chances during the second half. His performance quickly became the talk of the town, with television pundits and social media users alike questioning his finish and why he was not substituted as Portugal looked to progress.
Martínez defends team amid “noise and tension”
Martínez, however, dismissed suggestions that outside criticism was affecting the squad, insisting that such pressure was part of the World Cup environment.“We’re playing the World Cup so of course we have a lot of noise and tension, but that’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 game. We are very focused. We are strong. The team is even more united than before.”Although he did not address Ronaldo directly, the Portuguese coach also hit back against the intensity of criticism aimed at individuals.“Some of the criticism is ‘unfair, unfair,'” he added.Ronaldo, who did not speak to reporters after the game, later posted on social media: “It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Keep your head up and focus on the next game.” He followed it up with pictures from training accompanied by the caption: “Mission Focused.”
Ronaldo’s role under scrutiny ahead of the crucial clash
Despite registering just 25 touches in the first leg, Ronaldo remains at the heart of Portugal’s tactical debate. Martínez urged that the veteran striker continues to bring decisive value in the final third.“Cristiano is the best for that,” he said. “The numbers back that up about this iconic player that is Cristiano Ronaldo. If you look at the last 32 games, he’s a player who has more movement, opening up space and finding pockets.”Meanwhile, Uzbek coach Fabio Cannavaro 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 a player like this alone,” Cannavaro said. “We have 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.”
