Portugal turns on Martinez: 'Smiling while the house burns'

Portugal has turned its back on departing manager Roberto Martinez after his team’s World Cup exit to Spain. Former international Ricardo Quaresma delivered a scathing verdict on Martinez’s leadership. Martinez’s eight-year stint as Portugal’s head coach ended with defeat to Spain in the Round of 16. He had already announced his departure before the tournament. Quaresma, an 80-time capped player, was damning in his assessment. Speaking to LiveMode, he said: “Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. We handed Spain the game from minute one. They set the tempo and did what they wanted. Portugal just wandered around without motivation or joy.” Quaresma continued: “I’m tired of repeating it, but Martinez never convinced me. The players must show more joy. Since he took charge, I have not seen Portugal play a great match. That’s the reality. Nothing worked. Everyone says this was Portugal’s greatest-ever side. But what have they won? I’d better stop talking or I’ll say things I’ll regret.”

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The Portuguese newspaper A Bola was equally scathing. It described Martinez as a “diplomat” chosen to smile while the house burned. The paper highlighted the decision not to start Gonçalo Ramos as the “cherry on top of Roberto Martinez’s circus of horrors.” BBC analyst Chris Sutton, a former striker for Chelsea and Premier League winner with Blackburn Rovers, also criticised Martinez’s World Cup management. “It’s disgraceful how he led Portugal at this World Cup,” Sutton said. “He already made a mess of Belgium, turning a golden generation into clowns.”

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Sutton added: “And now Portugal… It was pitiful to watch such a manager coach. Portugal is out because of Roberto Martinez. This is an absolute disgrace for the head coach, who flattered his star player—the most decorated player Portugal has ever had—without backbone. You have to be much stronger than that.”