World Cup 2026: Martinez Says He Had No Starling Lineup After Portugal’s 2-1 Win Over Nigeria

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez said his starting lineup is not set in stone.

He made the comment after the Selecão’s 2‑1 win over Nigeria on Wednesday, the last friendly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo on 17 June.

Martinez opened the match with captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Francisco Trincão and Pedro Neto up front. Neto scored the first goal midway through the first half at the Estadio Municipal de Leiria.

Akor Adams equalised for the Super Eagles eight minutes before the break, but substitute Francisco Conceição, who came on for Trincão at halftime, hit the decisive goal in the 74th minute to seal the win for Portugal.

“I keep emphasizing that I am very selective,” Martinez said after the match (according to OJogo). “There is no fixed starting XI. In contemporary football, there are 26 players who can contribute. The strategies for playing against the Democratic Republic of Congo are well defined, and several players are capable of executing them.”

“It would be erroneous to assume that I have a starting XI, only to discover in four or five days that other players are in better form. We consistently operate with clarity on the field; this is our strength.”

“I cannot restrict talent to just 11 players. That is a mistake I refuse to make. We have outfield players prepared to contribute. Those who start do not necessarily mean they will start every match. We must effectively utilise our talent.”

After a successful qualifying campaign, Ronaldo and his teammates drew 0‑0 with Mexico, beat the USA 2‑0 in March, and then won 2‑1 over Chile and Nigeria in their final two friendlies before the World Cup.