Roberto Martinez has admitted that Portugal are feeling a "sense of frustration" after their 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their World Cup opener, as scrutiny over Cristiano Ronaldo's place in the starting lineup intensifies. The 41-year-old forward, playing at his sixth World Cup, failed to score, extending his goalless run in major tournaments to ten matches.
Ronaldo's performance under the microscope
Ronaldo led the line but missed several chances to put Portugal ahead after Joao Neves' opener was cancelled out by Yoane Wissa. His style of play has been criticised for limiting the team's attacking fluidity. Martinez defended his captain, saying: "He's an example, as a captain and he's reacted as a captain, with a lot of experience. He wants to contribute, and he's a role model for our team. He's probably the biggest example of how to recover, how to train. But that doesn't take away the feeling of frustration we all have, as a team."
Pressure mounts ahead of Uzbekistan clash
Portugal's star-studded squad were among the pre-tournament favourites, but the draw against the African nation has raised questions about their tactics. Martinez insists the team is "united" and "stronger" ahead of their next match against Uzbekistan in Houston. However, failing to beat the underdogs would invite even harsher criticism. "We're playing a World Cup, of course there's a lot of noise, a lot of tension, it's part of the game. Our focus is on the team. We're more united than before we arrived. There's no tension," he said.
Players voice concerns
Former Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo acknowledged the team's shortcomings. "We didn't create chances, and that isn't normal in a team like ours. We have high quality players, among the best in the world, and we have to show that on the pitch. Tomorrow, only winning counts. We don't have any margin for error," he said on Monday. Meanwhile, goalscorer Joao Neves faced online backlash after describing Ronaldo as "just another player, here to help."
