Martínez on Inácio: Sporting defender subbed at half-time | OneFootball

Portugal lost to the Republic of Ireland, 2-0, in a match played last Thursday, December 13, which ended up postponing the National Team’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup. At the end of the match, Roberto Martínez explained the substitution of Gonçalo Inácio – Sporting’s player – at halftime, as well as João Cancelo, for the introduction of Renato Veiga and Nélson Semedo.

"We need time to create a connection between our players. Cancelo already had a yellow card, we didn’t want to take any risks, and then, with Renato Veiga, we’ve done this many times before, betting on the physical aspect of a player for 45 minutes," he began by saying.

Next, Martínez also highlighted the need for solutions, addressing the absence of Raphael Guerreiro despite Nuno Mendes’ injury: "We need to look for solutions to prepare for games every three days, so it’s about using the versatile players we have. That wasn’t part of the defeat; the defeat happened due to a performance that wasn’t up to our usual standard."

With this result, the National Team once again postpones their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The Quinas will be back on the field next Sunday, November 16, against Armenia. In that match, Roberto Martínez’s men only need a draw to confirm their place in the next World Cup.

At the start of the 2025/26 sports season, Gonçalo Inácio – valued at 45 million euros – is one of the pillars of Sporting. The green and white center-back has already played 1,440 minutes in 16 games, in which he has managed to provide two assists for goals.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.