Portugal faces Croatia in a game scheduled for Thursday, at 7pm local time (00am on Friday in Lisbon), at the BMO Field Stadium, in Toronto, Canada, with Norwegian Espen Eskas refereeing.
Coach Roberto Martínez guaranteed, this Wednesday, that Portugal is prepared to start aexplaining that there are no secrets to the duel with Croatia, in the round of 32 of the tournament.
“We are now starting the second World Cup. It was very important to have a good preparation, which was the three group stage games. We did things well, others were more difficult, but all the players are prepared”, he said in a press conference that took place at the BMO Field Stadium, in Toronto, Canada.
Portugal faces Croatia in a game scheduled for Thursday, at 7pm local time (00am on Friday in Lisbon), at the BMO Field Stadium, in Toronto, Canada, with Norwegian Espen Eskas refereeing.
Martínez explained that after the first phase, the Portuguese team has “the strength and preparation” to move forward in the race, but that they now need to “have the courage to believe”.
Regarding the use of Portuguese players, the coach explained that only 11 players can play from the start, with five more substitutions, but assured that everyone is ready and willing to help.
“That’s what the national team’s role is. There are 26 players and then we have 11 as starters and five substitutions. The important thing is the pride in representing the national team. Those who don’t play want to play, those who play 30 minutes want 90. It’s the mentality of the athletes, but the locker room has the professionalism to help and be prepared for when we need them”, he assured.
The 52-year-old selector highlighted that after all the work done in Palm Beach, in the United States, the players are adapted and ready to respond.
“In a World Cup we know that there are competitive and difficult games. The World Cup is demanding and the team is now prepared for everything, travel: time zones, heat, humidity”, he assured.
Regarding the opponent, Roberto Martínez praised the Croatian team, remembering that they are two teams that know each other “very well”.
“Croatia is a team we know well, they also know us. It’s going to be a competitive game and we want to win to continue on our way. We want to try to take the game where we want. Croatia have a similar style to us, they like to have the ball, and we have to see how we can control that aspect, but we’ve had competitive games in the Nations League and there are no secrets”, he stressed.
The coach once again stated that the “noise” surrounding the Portuguese team is “normal”, guaranteeing that the team knows how to criticize itself and that there is commitment and attitude in the working group, which does not look for “excuses”.
Martínez also discussed the duel between Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, players already over 40 years old, and who should be playing their last World Cup, with one of them falling by the wayside on Thursday.
“They are players who are above public opinion. Their longevity makes them special. Modric is already over 40 years old, the same with our captain, but age is a number, what matters is what they do and the example they set. Modric and Ronaldo are football icons”, he concluded.
Vitinha wants more
Midfielder Vitinha stated, also this Wednesday, that Portugal has to “improve” to overcome Croatia on Thursday, in the round of 32 of the 2026 football World Cup, and showed understanding with the criticism that the Portuguese team has received.
“I understand the doubts, the criticism. We welcome this with open arms. We don’t just want pats on the back. We know when we are and when we are less well. Nobody wants to win more than us”, said Vitinha at the press conference previewing the duel with the Croatians, at BMO Field, in Toronto, Canada.
The 26-year-old player dismissed the excessive heat and weather conditions experienced at the World Cup as an “excuse” for the less successful performance against Colombia (0-0), in the group stage farewell, and stressed that improvement is needed.
“Those who were on the field felt the lack of control against Colombia. There is a desire to improve and we know that the margin for error is little or almost none. We are prepared to win and move on to the next phase,” he said.
On an individual level, Vitinha, who is coming off a season in which he became two-time European club champion with Paris Saint-Germain, confessed that he also needs to increase his level in this competition.
“We are the first ones interested in playing well, in wanting to win. I hope and I will do everything so that my level can rise, as well as that of the team. This is always interconnected. I hope that the collective is well and that the individualities can stand out and be visible. That they push each other”, he said.
If they overcome the Croatian team, Portugal already knows that they will face Spain or Austria in the round of 16, in a game scheduled for Monday, in Dallas, in the United States.
The 2026 World Cup, the first with 48 teams, runs until July 19, in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
