Roberto Martínez adamant Portugal deserved extra time in Spain defeat | OneFootball

Portugal exited the 2026 World Cup in the last 16 with a 1-0 defeat by Spain, and Roberto Martínez maintained his side merited extra time. According to Superdeporte, he called it their best performance of the tournament.

He praised their aggression without the ball and the way they matched one of the favourites. He felt fine margins decided it, noting a Portugal effort that struck the crossbar and stayed out.

Martínez argued the tie could have gone either way and that they needed a touch more luck in the final third.

Bruno Fernandes voiced disappointment, admitting Portugal repeated costly errors. He felt they were superior before the interval but criticised how the team dropped too deep after half-time and surrendered too much possession, which he said tends to lead to a goal.

Despite the exit, Fernandes maintained this group had the quality to win the World Cup. He urged the side to learn from the defeat, lean into their identity and play more to their own style to command greater respect.

Source: Superdeporte