English Media: Pressure on Martínez to Avoid ‘Wasting’ Portugal’s New Golden Generation

Ahead of the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 fixture between Portugal and Slovenia, The London Evening Standard published an article highlighting the burden on Portugal’s manager Roberto Martínez to prevent the waste of another generation of talents.

Portugal, one of the favorites for the title, found themselves under scrutiny after a loss to Georgia in the group stage. Martínez, the former Belgium coach, now faces a crucial test against Slovenia to silence doubts about his managerial capabilities.

Just days earlier, Martínez seemed invincible, guiding Portugal to a perfect record in the qualification campaign and securing their place in the Round of 16 with victories over the Czech Republic and Turkey. However, the unexpected 0-2 defeat to Georgia has brought him down to earth, making the upcoming clash with Slovenia a decisive moment in his coaching tenure.

Having managed Belgium’s “Golden Generation” for six years, Martínez is familiar with the weight of national expectations. The question remains whether his fortunes will change in Portugal, given his inability to lead Belgium to major tournament success.

“The team appears calm on the surface, but the loss to Georgia has fans worried,” Nuno Travaços, a reporter for Portuguese newspaper A Bola, observed. “The team’s performance was not as dominant as it was during the qualifiers.”

Martínez earned fans’ trust with his flawless qualifying run and fluid tactics, even if occasional tactical tinkering led to some imbalance. He demonstrated a willingness to experiment, alternating between a back-three and back-four system during the Euros, and adjusting formations mid-match. Players like Bernardo Silva, who seamlessly switched between a No. 10 role and the wing, and João Cancelo, who played both as a full-back and in midfield, exemplified this versatility.

Behind Martínez’s tactical flexibility lies a star-studded squad, which even after eight rotations against Georgia, still featured the likes of Palhinha, Félix, and Neto. Cristiano Ronaldo, the team’s talisman, despite not scoring in the group stage and showing frustration at being substituted, is expected to start against Slovenia. Other key figures such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota are also counted upon to elevate Portugal’s game.

Slovenia, having defeated Portugal 2-0 in a friendly in March and held England to a draw recently, cannot be underestimated. They have demonstrated their resilience and strength, posing a serious challenge to Portugal’s aspirations.