Martinez says – Roberto Martinez insists Portugal can draw inspiration from the day after Diogo Jota’s anniversary of death, with the Round of 32 clash against Croatia in Toronto on July 2 marking 364 days since the forward’s car accident. Martinez also defended his decision
For Portugal, the countdown to Croatia doesn’t just run through matchday routines. It runs through a date.
The anniversary of Diogo Jota’s death falls the day after Portugal’s clash with Croatia. with the sides set to meet in Toronto on July 2—364 days since the forward’s devastating passing in a car accident. One year after the tragedy left Portugal in mourning. Roberto Martinez says the emotions around the date won’t weigh on the squad.
After Portugal finished second in Group K thanks to a fortuitous 0-0 draw with Colombia. Martinez spoke about how difficult it can be to go about training and matches when Jota comes back into memory. He pushed back on the idea that the anniversary itself will be especially hard. calling it “a little bit of a celebration.”.
“I think every day is difficult. You are training and there are always moments when Diogo Jota comes into our memory. I wouldn’t say the anniversary is especially difficult – it is a little bit of a celebration. We need to honour Diogo. It is a moment to cherish,” Martinez said.
He tied the motivation directly to what Jota meant to the group. insisting that winning the Nations League with him still shapes the team’s belief. “We won the Nations League with him. he is probably the sign and the light of the biggest stimulation we have. We want to win the World Cup for him,” Martinez added.
For Martinez, the practical response is simple: the match has to reflect Jota’s spirit. “The anniversary means the game needs to be Diogo Jota’s game. It is not a difficult moment. When he is with us we are a stronger team. When we don’t win a game. like tonight. we reference that his desire and his belief is always in our presence.”.
That belief will be tested immediately. Portugal and Croatia meet at the Round of 32 stage in Toronto on Thursday, with the timing placing the emotional anniversary right on the edge of the fixture.
Martinez, though, was just as pressed on another issue—his handling of Cristiano Ronaldo’s minutes. He defended persisting with the striker after another ineffective display. with the latest concern centring on Ronaldo not being substituted even though he played 90 minutes in each of Portugal’s three games. Martinez pointed to Ronaldo’s discipline and positioning as reasons for keeping him on the field.
The Portugal squad’s attacking output has not matched the expectations placed on their captain. with Ronaldo contributing only two goals across the tournament so far—against minnows Uzbekistan. according to the account of his World Cup run. Martinez faced criticism even if he avoided singling out the 41-year-old. whose continued presence has drawn sharper scrutiny after the group-stage draw with Colombia.
When asked about his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch at all times. Martinez said: “Cristiano is used to being in the right place at the right time. That is a question of mentally being strong and always being disciplined in his position and opening space for our attacking patterns. It is not an issue physically or mentally for Cristiano in today’s game to play 90.”.
He added that changes could come next match, but framed it as a normal part of managing any player’s workload rather than a statement of failure in this one. “Maybe next game we need to make a change (to Ronaldo’s minutes on the pitch) but it is like any other player.”
With Croatia arriving right after a year marked by Jota’s death, Portugal’s players face two pressures at once: carrying an anniversary they can feel in every day of preparation, and meeting the knockout stage questions that have already begun to swirl around their team selections and performances.
MISRYOUM Sports News Portugal Croatia Roberto Martinez Diogo Jota Cristiano Ronaldo World Cup Round of 32 Toronto Nations League Group K Colombia