Manchester United legend and former Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has strongly criticised Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez following the team’s disappointing 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match.
Calling Martinez “one of the most disappointing coaches” of the tournament so far, Schmeichel argued that Portugal possess one of the strongest squads in the competition but are failing to perform anywhere near their full potential.
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Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo in his historic sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, were held by underdogs DR Congo after Yoane Wissa cancelled out an early goal from Joao Neves. Ronaldo endured a quiet game in attack, while Bernardo Silva also struggled to make an impact as Portugal failed to justify their status as one of the tournament favourites.
The draw sparked widespread criticism, with former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry reportedly questioning Ronaldo’s approach, suggesting the veteran forward appeared more focused on scoring himself rather than creating opportunities for the team.
Schmeichel, however, directed much of his criticism at Martinez, pointing to his previous tenure with Belgium, where he oversaw a squad widely regarded as a “golden generation” featuring stars such as Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Although Belgium secured a third-place finish at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, they suffered a disappointing group-stage exit in Qatar four years later.
Speaking after Portugal’s draw, Schmeichel said Martinez appeared to be repeating the same mistakes.
“Roberto Martinez has to be one of the most disappointing coaches of this World Cup so far. He wasted Belgium’s golden generation, and now it seems the same thing is happening with Portugal,” he remarked.
The former goalkeeper also questioned Martinez’s team selection, expressing frustration over the decision to leave attacking talents Joao Felix and Rafael Leao on the bench despite Portugal’s lack of creativity in the final third.
He argued that Portugal’s tactical approach has become too cautious for a side blessed with attacking quality, adding that the midfield often appears disconnected and substitutions frequently arrive too late to influence the outcome of matches.
With Portugal set to face Uzbekistan on June 23, Schmeichel warned that the team must improve quickly if they are to avoid squandering another golden opportunity to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy.
“Portugal has one of the strongest squads in the tournament, but they are not playing anywhere near their potential. If things don’t change quickly, Portugal could waste another golden opportunity to win the World Cup,” he cautioned.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
