… no margin for error against Uzbekistan — Cancelo
Portugal head into their World Cup clash with Uzbekistan in Houston on Tuesday under growing pressure, but Roberto Martinez says his team are “united” and “stronger”, after facing criticism for their opening 1-1 draw with Congo DR.
The draw with Congo DR in their opening match triggered renewed scrutiny of a squad widely tipped among pre-tournament favourites, while attention has also centred on captain Cristiano Ronaldo as debate continues around his role at the competition.
A social media storm followed comments from midfielder João Neves, who said Ronaldo was “just another player, here to help,” a remark later taken out of context and widely interpreted as disrespectful to the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference in Houston on Monday, Martinez pushed back on suggestions of tension within the Portugal camp.
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“We’re more united, we’re stronger. We’re playing a World Cup, of course there’s a lot of noise, a lot of tension, it’s part of the game. Our focus is on the team.
“We’re more united than before we arrived. There’s no tension,” Martinez said.
Martinez has continued to defend Ronaldo, who scored five goals in qualifying but has not scored for Portugal since October 2025. The forward is appearing at his sixth World Cup.
“He’s an example, as a captain. And he’s reacted as a captain, with a lot of experience. He wants to contribute, and he’s a role model for our team,” the coach said.
The coach also pointed to Ronaldo’s tactical impact.
“He opens up spaces with his movements,” Martínez said, insisting that “the numbers support him.”
“He’s probably the biggest example of how to recover, how to train,” he added. “But that doesn’t take away the feeling of frustration we all have, as a team.”
Fullback João Cancelo also acknowledged shortcomings in Portugal’s opening performance, admitting the team failed to create enough chances.
“We didn’t create chances, and that isn’t normal in a team like ours,” he said on Monday. “We have high-quality players, among the best in the world, and we have to show that on the pitch.
“Tomorrow, only winning counts. We don’t have any margin for error.”
