Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended his players after the 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener, saying the team lost composure in the final third once the match became tense.
According to media reports following the final whistle, Cristiano Ronaldo headed quickly down the tunnel, a reaction Martinez viewed as understandable frustration after Portugal dropped points despite taking an early lead through Joao Neves.
Martinez added that his squad must learn from the setback, explaining that fear of losing affected Portugal after Yoane Wissa's equaliser, while the team still has time to recover in the remaining group-stage matches.