Roberto Martinez, head coach of the Portugal national football team, recently gave an exclusive interview,In the interview, he talked about this World Cup.
Portugal has won championships at almost all levels. At the senior national team level, they have claimed one UEFA European Championship title and two UEFA Nations League titles. Do you think Portugal can now be regarded as a favorite to win the World Cup?
We know the difference between a true competitor and a favorite to win The Title,I believe only those teams that have won the World Cup before can be considered title favorites.
Psychologically speaking, knowing that the previous generation of the team won this tournament gives you a special kind of strength. Even so, I still have full confidence in this group of players because they are fully committed to the national team.
Eusebio’s third-place finish at the 1966 World Cup is a great inspiration to them. It motivates them, and the team is ready to take on the challenge, even though we know how difficult it will be.
If Portugal is "only" a candidate team... then who are the title favorites?
Those teams that have already won the World Cup and are in good form.
Do you think Portugal is the strongest team?
I can tell you that I have seen some teams in very good form, such as Spain. Germany is also well-prepared because they suffered setbacks when playing at home in the UEFA Nations League... In addition, they are the only European team to have won the World Cup in the Americas (2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil).
In my opinion, France is inherently suited for major tournaments, as are Brazil and Argentina, who have a more familiar geographical environment.
What do you think of the Spanish team?
Very good. After winning the European Championship, besides their consistently high technical and tactical level, they have also created a good atmosphere. This atmosphere protects the players, allows them to enjoy the game, and helps them find various solutions.
Luis de la Fuente has made great contributions in this regard. You can see that Spain does not have a high possession rate, but they can still win games. They also know how to control the game and launch counterattacks... All this stems from the healthy and competitive atmosphere created within the national team, which is what allows them to maintain consistent performance in every game.
