Roberto Martínez insists Portugal deserved extra time after 1-0 loss to Spain | OneFootball

Portugal’s 2026 World Cup ended in the last 16 with a 1-0 defeat to Spain, and head coach Roberto Martínez insisted his side deserved extra time. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, he viewed it as Portugal’s best performance of the tournament.

He praised the players’ spirit, saying they played with bite. Martínez highlighted a disciplined, aggressive display without the ball against a team he classed among the favourites.

He lamented missed chances, recalling an effort that struck the bar in a tight contest. In his view, the tie was settled by fine details and could have gone either way.

Bruno Fernandes shared his disappointment and accepted that recurring mistakes proved decisive. He felt Portugal were superior before the interval, then said the team dropped too deep after half-time and surrendered too much possession, which eventually brought the goal against them.

Even so, Fernandes said this generation had the quality to win the World Cup. He called for the side to lean into their identity, play more to their own style and demand greater respect.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo