Portugal national team coach Roberto Martínez addressed his country’s press with a sarcastic tone during a press conference. The statement came before the clash between Portugal and Uzbekistan, scheduled for this Tuesday (23) in Houston, in the United States. When asked if he could watch other World Cup matches, the coach replied that he didn’t have time and, in an ironic reference to the criticism he received, declared that, according to Portuguese newspapers, the team is “always on the beach”.
Martínez elaborated on the issue of time, explaining the team’s intense dedication. “No, we don’t have time (to watch other World Cup games). That’s why we have a team of analysts, we have a team of people who are preparing every step,” he said. He added, “and, if you read the Portuguese press, you’ll see that we’re always on the beach, so we can’t watch anything.”
The coach’s speech highlights a controversy that has accompanied Portugal since the beginning of the World Cup. The athletes were criticized for visiting the beach during the preparation phase for the tournament. The team’s US base is located in Palm Beach Gardens, a coastal city in Florida. This type of friction between teams and the press, often driven by less-than-expected results, is a recurring scenario in major competitions, where every detail is amplified under the global focus.
The topic generated vast repercussions in Portuguese media outlets. Journalists began to question the players about the matter in interviews, creating an atmosphere of discomfort and tension between the team and the reporters. Criticism intensified after Portugal’s draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening match of the World Cup.
Full-back Matheus Nunes defended going to the beach, explaining the adaptation strategy. “Going to the beach was already part of the work plan to adapt to the climate,” said the player last week. He explained: “For example, I spend the year playing in Manchester and it’s not so hot there, it’s a huge difference. So, it was already in the plans to go to the beach in the morning to adapt to the heat, the sun and the humidity. We’re not spending more time on the beach than in training”.
In addition to the controversy involving the beach, Portugal faces a turbulent internal environment. After the negative result in the first match, the team began to deal with questions about the collective performance and, in particular, about the role of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Midfielder João Neves caused a stir when he stated that the star should be treated like other players. This statement led to exchanges of public barbs, dissatisfaction from fans and even an ironic statement from Cristiano Ronaldo’s wife. There were also reactions to a statement by Francisco Conceição, who denied the existence of an obligation to pass the ball to the attacker on the team.
With just one point, Portugal occupies third place in Group K of the World Cup. The team is looking for its first victory in the tournament and will take the field again this Tuesday, at 2 pm (Brasília time), to face Uzbekistan. The Uzbek team was defeated by Colombia 3-1 in their debut. A Portuguese triumph could be crucial to advance to the next stage.