Why Roberto Martinez is the main reason this Portugal team is failing

 One win and two draws. No goal scored against Colombia. Fans blaming every player on the pitch. It's going completely wrong for Portugal at the world cup. But the criticism of Bruno Fernandes or Vitinha or Ronaldo does not make sense. The criticism should all be on the manager, Roberto Martinez. Infamous for wasting Belgium's golden generation, he is on his way to ruin another golden generation. From amateur tactical mistakes to employing subpar tactics, here's how Roberto Martinez is failing miserably in the Portugal hotseat.

Martinez's Diamond which is not shining

Roberto Martinez is trying to build the team around Ronaldo. Ronaldo is simply not the player he used to be. Building a team around him is not wise. But he's still a world class poacher. A poacher like him with a midfield like that should be a winning combination. Martinez needs to build the team around Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha. When Portugal won the nations league, Martinez played a flat 3 in midfield with Silva, Vitinha and Bruno with two wide players in Leao and Neto/Conceicao, while Neves played as a right back. 

Portugal in-possesion when they won the nations league.

Neves or Dalot whoever played used to invert into the midfield and Mendes used to play like a wide centre back in possesion. This gave Portugal the balance and let players like Bruno and Silva shine in their natural positions. This also made sure if Ruben Neves or Conceicao play, there won't be any need for tactical changes. Neto and Leao kept width and Ronaldo troubled centre backs. This was the ideal tactic for this Portugal team. But since then Martinez has adopted a weird midfield shape which goes to a 3-1-6/ diamond in-possesion.

Portugal in-possession Vs Congo, First game of WC

In the World Cup, Cancelo overlaps instead of inverting in the midfield while Bruno and Neves are the two midfielders in the diamond which can also become 3-1-6 when they push forward. The problem with that is Bruno Fernandes needs to play as close to the goal as possible to excel, and Silva, Vitinha and Neves are three very similar players in close quarters. Neto is also the only player who holds width. The plan can work if Ruben Neves/ Samu start but it has way too many limitations. Bruno needs to get forward more and Cancelo sometimes gets caught in transition and leaves Portugal vulnerable. Silva also hasn't worked and Portugal have struggled to assert control. 
Roberto Martinez needs to revert back to his orginal tactic otherwise Portugal won't go far in the world cup. 

Taking Long kicks instead of not playing out from the back

Any amateur manager knows that when the opposition marks zonally, playing out from the back is the right option. Especially when you have the quality that Portugal do. Yet when Colombia marked zonally, Portugal were going long from the goal kicks. 

How Colombia mark zonally

Veiga can pull Cordoba freeing Dias

Pass to Dias can pull Diaz and free Neves

Neves can now pass to Vitinha or Cancelo if he gets forward

This is one of the ways Portugal can build up against zonal marking. One centre to other and then to the full backs or the midfielders. Zonal marking can only be broken by playing out from the back. If Colombia marked man to man it made sense to go long but against zonal marking going long is an amateur mistake. Roberto Martinez must do better here. If they have multiple combinations for playing out from the back just like these, Portugal will instantly become a better team. 


Roberto Martinez is a talented manager no doubt but he always fails in big moments to find the right tactics. If he can find the right tactics this team is special but if he cannot then Portugal are doomed and there is no chance of a World Cup for Cristiano Ronaldo.



By Parth Gokhale