Portugal coach Roberto Martinez described the team as treating the knockout stage as their "second World Cup".

Portugal's national team coach Roberto Martinez said ahead of Thursday's Round of 32 match against Croatia that the team will treat the upcoming knockout stage as a "second World Cup" and give it their all.

Portugal advanced to the knockout stage with a record of one win and two draws, finishing second in their group. Speaking about the upcoming knockout rounds, Martinez admitted at the press conference: "Tomorrow we begin our second World Cup, and the prior preparations are very important."

Facing Croatia, a formidable opponent who has won the World Cup runner-up and third place, Martinez has a clear understanding of the upcoming challenge. He said, "Croatia is a team we know very well. They also know our strengths and talents, so this will be a very competitive match."

In response to previous media criticisms regarding Ronaldo playing the entire group stage while other forwards lacked playing time, Martinez addressed the issue directly in an interview, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion.

Martinez stated, "The important thing is that all the players are ready to play for the team, whether in the starting lineup or on the bench. The players know what the team expects of them and are prepared when they are called up."

Speaking about the upcoming showdown between 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and 40-year-old Luka Modric, Martinez spoke highly of the reunion of these two legends. He emphasized, "People talk about age, but age is just a number. What matters is their performance and the example they set in the locker room."

Image source: Internet