FIFA World Cup. Will Ronaldo be benched against Uzbekistan? The Portugal coach continues his starting XI under Football News:
Portugal coach Roberto Martínez refused to confirm if Cristiano Ronaldo will retain his starting spot for Tuesday FIFA World Cup will compete against Uzbekistan, after the superstar’s losing performance in the team’s opening match.“I will not inform you about the starting 11 because I have not informed my players,” Martínez said on Monday when asked if Ronaldo would remain in the lineup.The 41-year-old forward failed to find the net in Portugal’s 1-1 draw against Congo, a game in which he had limited influence and missed several key chances in 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 replaced as Portugal looked for a breakthrough.
Martínez defends squad amid “noise and tension”
However, Martínez dismissed suggestions that outside criticism was affecting the squad, 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 game. We are very focused. We are strong. The team is more united than before.”While not speaking directly to Ronaldo, the Portugal coach also pushed back against the intensity of criticism aimed at individuals.“Some of the criticism is ‘unfair, illogical,'” he added.Ronaldo, who did not speak to reporters after the match, later posted on social media. “It’s not the start we wanted, but it’s still a long way. Go ahead and focus on the next game.” He followed it up with pictures from the training accompanied by a caption. “Mission focused.”
Ronaldo’s role is under scrutiny ahead of the crucial clash
Despite registering just 25 touches in the opener, Ronaldo remains at the center of Portugal’s tactical discussion. Martínez insists the veteran forward still brings decisive value in the final third.“Cristiano is the best to do that,” he said. “The numbers support this with this iconic player Cristiano Ronaldo. If you look at the past 32 games, he is the player with more movement, opening spaces and finding pockets.”Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro, meanwhile, 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 have to focus a lot on him because Cristiano can score in every situation, free kicks, even in the corner. So we have to be careful.”
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