Portugal coach Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo is not substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Spain because of tactical and match-management considerations. In a post-match explanation, Martinez states that Ronaldo remains on the field for the full 90 minutes even though he does not score during the game. The coach’s comments address questions about the decision not to replace Ronaldo during the contest, highlighting that the selection and timing of substitutions are handled as part of the team’s broader game plan rather than solely based on whether a player scores. Martinez’s remarks clarify that the decision is deliberate and linked to how Portugal intends to control the match and utilize Ronaldo’s role throughout the game. Across the reports, the focus remains on the coach’s rationale for keeping Ronaldo on the pitch rather than making a change during the match’s later stages, and it confirms that Ronaldo completes the entire duration against Spain.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez explains why Cristiano Ronaldo plays full match vs Spain
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo is not substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Spain because of tactical and match-management considerations. In a post-match ex...
- Portugal coach Roberto Martinez says Cristiano Ronaldo plays the full 90 minutes against Spain.
- Ronaldo is not substituted despite not scoring in the match.
- The explanation is provided by Martinez in response to questions about the substitution decision.
- The match is a FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture between Portugal and Spain.
- Martinez frames the decision as part of overall match management rather than a response to goals.
Roberto Martinez revealed why Cristiano Ronaldo played the entire 90 minutes in Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Spain, despite not being able to score.
4 hours agoRoberto Martinez revealed why Cristiano Ronaldo played the entire 90 minutes in Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Spain, despite not being able to score.
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