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Portugal caput coach, Roberto Martinez, has remained coy astir leaving Cristiano Ronaldo retired for the last-32 clash against Croatia astatine the 2026 World Cup.
Ronaldo started each 3 matches during the radical stages and scored lone doubly – some goals against Uzbekistan.
There person been calls for the 41-year-old to beryllium dropped, implicit concerns astir his effect connected the wide squad play.
But Martinez refused to perpetrate to benching his apical goalscorer successful the knockouts.
He said: “Cristiano is utilized to being successful the close spot astatine the close time. He is precise disciplined successful his position, and helium besides creates abstraction for his teammates.
“His carnal and intelligence information is not successful question. We whitethorn request to marque changes successful the adjacent match, but we basal each determination connected the accusation and information we have.”
2026 World Cup: Portugal coach, Martinez speaks connected dropping Ronaldo against Croatia
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