Coach Roberto Martinez explained the reason for replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the match against Croatia
Coach Roberto Martinez explained the replacement of Cristiano Ronaldo in the match against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup, emphasizing the importance of using diverse players.
Portugal team coach Roberto Martinez explained the reason for replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the 1/16 World Cup 2026 match against Croatia (2-1). Ronaldo was replaced in the 81st minute, and Ruben Neves was the substitute. Gonçalo Ramos appeared on the field in the 63rd minute. Martinez said: "It is important to know how to use the diverse players we have. During the match, there were times when our attacking group had difficulty reaching the opponent's 16m50 area. Putting Gonçalo Ramos on the field, with Cristiano's presence in the penalty area, can have a great influence on the actions of the opponent's central defenders. After scoring, the situation changed. Croatia needed to be more reckless, and the combination of Modric and Kovacic in the middle of the field strengthened. That's when we needed to add a midfielder and control Croatia's strong areas. We took advantage of the lack of a Croatian defensive midfielder to have two strikers on the field - this was necessary at that time. Then, when Croatia needed to attack our goal, it was time to change the defensive structure. " Portugal will meet the Spain team.
Related Articles
Teams
Players
Related Videos
Related Articles
National TeamsSurvey after Germany's defeat: Is Klopp a worthy replacement for Nagelsmann?
After an early defeat at the World Cup against Paraguay, the DFB is considering the future of the team, in which the head coach is a matter of discussion. Jürgen Klopp is considered the leading candidate to replace Julian Nagelsmann.
National TeamsFormer England player Oxlade-Chamberlain extended his contract with Celtic
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will extend his contract with Celtic for another year, despite interest from other clubs.
National TeamsBrazil's injury situation before the match against Norway: Lucas Paquetá may be absent
Brazil has difficulty in terms of strength before the match with Norway when Lucas Paquetá is not expected to play due to injury, while Neymar and Raphinha have not fully recovered.
National TeamsTactical analysis: Belgium - Senegal: Belgium overcame with difficulty
Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 in extra time despite poor form. Coach Rudi Garcia's tactical changes are analyzed.