Portugal coach Roberto Martinez confirms departure after loss

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 01:56:00 +0000

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez reacts during the Round of 16 betweem Portugal and Spain at the Dallas Stadium, Arlington, U.S., on July 6, 2026
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Saying Portugal’s national team needs “a new voice,” manager Roberto Martinez confirmed he is stepping down after the 1-0 loss to Spain on Monday (July 7, 2026) in their round of 16 match in Arlington, Texas.

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Martinez has coached Portugal since 2023 and planned to leave his post after the team’s run to what he hoped would be a World Cup championship. His contract was due to expire after the tournament.

“Yes, this is ⁠my last game with the national team,” said Martinez, a native of Spain who turns 53 on July 13. “I’m proud. I’ve had 45 games, and I felt welcomed in Portugal and loved. It’s ‌a memory I’ll take with me always.

“It was a pleasure, a source of pride and responsibility. It’s hard, but it’s the end of a ‌cycle, and in the context it makes absolute sense.”

Martinez said, “It’s important to have ‌a new voice now” and added that it was fair for Portuguese Football ⁠Federation president Pedro Proenca, who was appointed last year, to be able to choose his own manager.

“I want to thank the president and the board for their support and for providing me and my coaching staff with all the necessary conditions,” Martinez ‌said. “I appreciate their strength and support, but it is the end of a cycle.”

Portugal is a co-host of the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Morocco and is automatically qualified.

Martinez managed Belgium’s national team from 2016-22 and also coached Everton, Swansea ‌City and Wigan Athletic. He led Portugal to the 2024 European Championship quarterfinals, then the UEFA Nations League title in June 2025.

Portugal finished second in this World Cup in Group K, going 1-0-2 (5 points) with a ⁠5-0 win over Uzbekistan and draws against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-1) and group winner Colombia (0-0).

Last Thursday (July 2, 2026), Portugal held off Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 before elimination ‌on Monday (July 6), which also marked the final World Cup game for legendary attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, 41.

“We didn’t fail,” Martinez said. “We lost a game against a team that’s one of the favorites. We showed incredible individual talent. Winning or losing is about details in the big games, with big teams. … You fail when you don’t try to win, and we tried to win until the last minute.”

Martinez said to those thinking Ronaldo should have ‌been subbed for late in the game that he was physically capable of playing at least 90 minutes and delivering the needed goal.

“This is not the time to look for anything beyond the fact that we are talking about a football icon,” ⁠Martinez said of Ronaldo.

“There aren’t many Cristiano Ronaldos. I will forever appreciate what he ⁠tried to do in this World Cup, because his dream was to win it. He was an incredible example of a captain, both on a footballing ‌level and a human level.

“His impact inside the dressing room and within the group of players is something the entire coaching staff and all the players will carry with us forever. He is an example of football, of an athlete and of the human being behind the athlete.”

Published – July 07, 2026 07:26 am IST

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FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D squads: Full player lists

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:55:00 +0000

Group D of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, promises an exhilarating show on the international football stage. The inclusion of the United States as the seeded host creates a uniquely competitive field alongside Australia, Türkiye, and Paraguay.

Let’s have a detailed look at the Group D squads.

United States of America

Goalkeepers: Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic)

Midfielders: Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille), Haji Wright (Coventry City), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América)

Paraguay squad list

Goalkeepers: Gatito Fernández (Cerro Porteño), Orlando Gill (San Lorenzo), Gastón Olveira (Olimpia)

Defenders: Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Júnior Alonso (Atlético Mineiro), Fabián Balbuena (Grêmio), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Juan José Cáceres (Dynamo Moscow), Gustavo Velázquez (Cerro Porteño), José Canale (Lanus), Alexandro Maidana (Talleres)

Midfielders: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Kaku (Al-Ain), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras), Diego Gómez (Brighton), Damián Bobadilla (Sao Paulo), Braian Ojeda (Orlando City), Matías Galarza (Atlanta United), Maurício (Palmeiras)

Forwards: Antonio Sanabria (Cremonese), Julio Enciso (Strasbourg), Gabriel Ávalos (Independiente), Álex Arce (Independiente Rivadavia), Isidro Pitta (Red Bull Bragantino), Gustavo Caballero (Portsmouth)

Australia squad list

Goalkeepers: Ryan (Levante), Izzo (Randers), Beach (Melbourne City).

Defenders: Behich (Melbourne City), Bos (Feynoord), Burgess (Swansea City), Circati (Parma), Degenek (APOEL), Geria (Albirex Niigata), Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Italiano (Grazer), Souttar (Leicester City), Trewin (New York City).

Midfielders: Devlin (Heart of Midlothian), Hrustic (Heracles Almelo), Irvine (St Pauli), Metcalfe (St Pauli), Okon-Englster (Sydney), O’Neill (New York City).

Forwards: Irankunda (Watford), Leckie (Melbourne City), Mabil (Castellon), Toure (Norwich City), Velupilly (Melbourne City), Volpato (Sassuolo), Yengi (Livingston/Machida Zelvia).

Türkiye squad list

Goalkeepers: Altay Bayındır (Manchester United), Mert Günok (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Uğurcan Çakır (Galatasaray A.Ş.)

Defenders: Abdülkerim Bardakcı (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Çağlar Söyüncü (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Eren Elmalı (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Ferdi Kadıoğlu (Brighton & Hove Albion), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli), Mert Müldür (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Ozan Kabak (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Samet Akaydın (Çaykur Rizespor A.Ş.), Zeki Çelik (AS Roma)

Midfielders: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Internazionale), İsmail Yüksek (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Kaan Ayhan (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Orkun Kökçü (Beşiktaş A.Ş.), Salih Özcan (Borussia Dortmund)

Forwards: Arda Güler (Real Madrid), Barış Alper Yılmaz (Galatasaray A.Ş.), Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Deniz Gül (FC Porto), İrfan Can Kahveci (Kasımpaşa A.Ş.), Kenan Yıldız (Juventus), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Oğuz Aydın (Fenerbahçe A.Ş.), Yunus Akgün (Galatasaray A.Ş.)

Published – June 10, 2026 03:25 pm IST