Martinez Unfazed By Ronaldo Fatigue Concerns Ahead Of Turkiye Euro 2024 Test

Roberto Martinez has expressed confidence in Cristiano Ronaldo's ability to play full matches consistently during Euro 2024. As Portugal gears up to face Turkiye in their second Group F game, Martinez dismissed concerns about the 39-year-old's stamina. Portugal began their campaign with a tense 2-1 victory over Czechia, thanks to Francisco Conceicao's last-minute goal.

Ronaldo, the all-time leading scorer at the Euros with 14 goals, played all 90 minutes in the opening match. This appearance marked his participation in six different editions of the tournament (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024). Despite a frustrating outing where he failed to score from five shots worth 0.73 expected goals (xG), Martinez remains confident in Ronaldo's capabilities.

Martinez stated, "How many games did Cristiano play last season? There is no other player who has been at six European Championships. He brings experience, offers us chances to score, and opens up spaces. We analyse the data and can see what he does. He's in the team because he deserves it. He can play every four days."

Some Portuguese media outlets have questioned whether another striker should be fielded alongside Ronaldo. However, Martinez prefers a collective attacking approach. "He was the striker with the most shots on target; he was disciplined and worked hard. He's an area player who opens up spaces," Martinez explained. "The important thing for us is to arrive in the area. We are not a direct team. We want to get into the final third with six or seven players."

Turkiye could draw significant support for their opening match in Dortmund after defeating Georgia 3-1 in one of the tournament's standout games so far. Martinez anticipates a challenging atmosphere for his team on Sunday.

"We expect the stadium to be loud. Turkey had a lot of support in the stands," Martinez said. "We also need to be ourselves, controlling the tempo and bringing width because that is what we do best. Turkey showed they can defend but their focus is always to attack. They are aggressive; they have character and attitude."

Portugal will need to manage both their own strategy and Turkiye's aggressive style as they aim for another victory in Group F.