Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterBuoyed by their Nations League victory last summer, Portugal begin their World Cup campaign on Wednesday with renewed confidence that they can win a maiden World Cup title.Ever since Roberto Martinez replaced Fernando Santos in January 2023, the former Swansea, Wigan and Everton boss has overseen a talented generation mature into a star-packed team, with established stars mixing in with exciting new talent.Portugal has never made a World Cup final, and while Martinez is not quite ready to declare his side one of the favourites this summer, he does believe they will be serious contenders.Martinez on Portugals World Cup chancesMartinez has overseen significant changes in the three-and-a-half years since taking the job and admits that he has been surprised by the speed of his teams development.Significantly, and in ways that continue to surprise me positively, he tells FourFourTwo when asked how the squad has evolved. "When I took charge, we didnt have Vitinha in the squad, nor Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Pedro Neto or Chico Conceicao. You may like Portugal squad World Cup 2026: Roberto Martinez's 27-man preliminary selection The numbers make the argument for Cristiano Ronaldo. Hes not in the squad because of what he was, but because his present form earns it every time Roberto Martinez on the Portuguese icons World Cup selection How to watch Portugal vs Nigeria for FREE: TV info All of them have emerged and become key players for us players whod be in the starting 11 of almost any international team. That kind of continuous renewal a country that keeps on producing high-quality additions is something youd normally associate with countries of 60 million people or more.The fact that Portugal does it with a population of 10 million says everything about the quality of the entire system.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Martinezs first major tournament with Portugal was Euro 2024, when he saw his side knocked out in the quarter-finals on penalties by France.Im convinced that match won us the Nations League, Martinez says when asked what he took away from that tournament. In that game, during the second half and through extra-time especially, we found the belief that we could play our own game against the very best teams in the world, without adapting to the opponent.We ended that match much stronger than France. In extra-time, we were the dominant team. The realisation that we could control the game against the French, that we didnt have to defend deep and absorb pressure, was the psychological foundation for everything that followed during our Nations League campaign. We gained the conviction that we belong at the very highest level. What to read next How to watch Portugal vs Chile for FREE: Live stream & TV details Exclusive: Andy Robertson discusses Scotland's World Cup ambitions EXCLUSIVE Jordan Pickford says England glory depends on 'whether we can put out the best version of ourselves' Portugals road to the National League title saw them defeat both Germany and Spain, landing what could be seen as a useful psychological blow ahead of this summers World Cup.The distance between being close to winning and actually winning is very small in physical terms, but very large in psychological weight, he continues. Winning it gives us proof that we can close out a tournament. I want to be completely honest about what that means for the World Cup. It would be easy and in a certain way dishonest for a manager to say, 'We have no expectations, we take it one game at a time.' Our players compete every week in dressing rooms where the expectation is to win the Champions League.Theres no logic in reducing that standard when they pull on the Portugal shirt. Were genuine candidates to go very far this summer. We have the quality, the collective organisation, the recent tournament experience, and now the proof that we can win."Were not favourites; Portugal has never won a World Cup, our best result was third in 1966, with Eusebio. Theres a psychological dimension to not having won something before a barrier that cant be declared gone simply because you feel ready. It has to be earned, step by step, by playing at the tournament.TOPICSBelgiumWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromFlorent Torchut
