In the upcoming UEFA Europa League group stage match on September 6, Beijing time, Portugal will host Croatia. Before the match, Roberto Martinez, the head coach of the Portuguese national team, expressed the team's expectations and preparations for the match in a press conference. Martinez emphasized that the Portuguese team will return to the field with vitality and eagerness to continue to adhere to its attack-oriented style of soccer to bring joy and surprise to the fans.
Facing Croatia, an opponent who specializes in ball control, Martinez said it will be an interesting matchup with both sides going all out for the ball. He revealed that although the exact starting eleven will be announced a day before the match, the team is fully prepared and every player has shown strong fighting spirit and adaptability, especially young rookies like Geovanni Kunda, whose outstanding performance has been impressive.
Martinez showed maturity and calmness when talking about the post-Euro criticism. He admitted that the details of the game often determine the winners and losers, but what is more important is the fighting spirit and growth shown by the team. Martinez spoke highly of the return of Pedro Gonçalves and said that he would consider playing him closer to the middle of the field in the national team in order to fully utilize his ability to link up and make the final pass.
In addition, Martinez also gave his insight into the differences between players' performances at club and national teams. He believes that players are independent individuals and that the environment of the club and the national team are different, so you can't simply compare the two. Regarding Rafael Guerrero's failure to be selected for the national team due to medical reasons, Martinez expressed his understanding and respect for the player's decision, while also emphasizing the importance of improving fitness during international match days.
Finally, Martinez expressed full respect for the Croatian team. He believes that the Croatian team is a team with excellent mentality and technical ability, and despite the poor performance and criticism in the European Cup, their strength is still not to be underestimated. In the face of such an opponent, the Portuguese team will go all out to show their best form in the game and bring a wonderful game to the fans.
