Portugal vs Croatia highlights, Nations League: POR 2-1 CRO; Ronaldo scores record 900th career goal

Portugal is about to host Croatia in its Nations League opener on Thursday earlier than welcoming Scotland in League A Group One on Sunday, Martinez mentioned that he took positives from their penalty shootout defeat to France within the quarterfinals on the Euros and that his aspect can be stronger for the expertise.

“Criticism is a part of the demand we’ll at all times have. However the inner calls for are even stronger than the calls for of the followers,” Martinez informed a press convention on Wednesday.

“We at all times need to win however the massive tournaments have the very best gamers on the earth, so video games are determined by particulars. The element is usually a penalty the place the ball goes in or out.

“We confirmed character, we managed the sport in opposition to France and we grew quite a bit as a crew. The group was able to play two extra video games, however I actually preferred our character. We did very properly in lots of elements.”

Martinez mentioned his gamers are skilled sufficient to cope with the strain and switch the web page on the heartbreaking shootout loss after a goalless stalemate, which summed up Portugal’s disappointing marketing campaign, as they struggled to be efficient up-front.

The Spanish supervisor mentioned that his essential focus was to construct his crew round their assault and that the followers ought to count on a extra aggressive aspect than the one they noticed in Germany

Cristiano Ronaldo has dominated out any quick considered retirement from worldwide soccer as he believes he nonetheless has lots to present Portugal, he informed a press convention on Monday.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who has been taking part in for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia for nearly two years now, failed to attain as he appeared at a document sixth European Championship this 12 months, with Portugal exiting within the quarterfinals.

Regardless of the criticism he obtained within the press convention Ronaldo mentioned he “by no means thought-about leaving the nationwide crew” and he has retained the backing of coach Roberto Martinez.