TEAM GUIDES — GROUP K: Colombia and Portugal should have too much firepower for Group K opponents

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Portugal not only have a great chance of advancing from the Group stage, but are capable of winning the World Cup with a star-packed squad, including the seemingly ageless Cristiano Ronaldo.

PortugalThe planPortugal secured their ninth World Cup appearance, and their seventh in a row, with relative ease, even if a home draw against Hungary in October and a defeat in Ireland in November delayed the celebrations until the final matchday. In that final game, Roberto Martínez’s side (without Cristiano Ronaldo, who had been sent off in Dublin) thrashed Armenia 9-1.

Variability is the key quality here. Martínez is capitalising on the tactical versatility of his squad: João Neves and Matheus Nunes can operate as full-backs or midfielders (sometimes both in the same match); João Cancelo and Diego Dalot play comfortably on either flank; and Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva constantly rotate roles. Despite this fluidity, the coach’s selections remain stable. While call-up surprises are rare, the starting XI has at least seven “untouchable” spots. The backbone is well-defined, led by figures such as Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Ronaldo, with Nuno Mendes and Vitinha also serving as undisputed starters.

“We won 10 games in a row on the road to Euro 2024, but the team wasn’t as prepared then as it is now. Challenges help you grow,” Martínez noted after qualifying. “Back then, we lacked the resilience needed to win titles. In the Nations League, it was different. We reacted when Germany scored, when Spain scored, and we won the tournament. That is where we are now. We must prepare well.”

The head coach wants his players to give everything and bring the values of the Portuguese people to the pitch, but there is also a more personal mission this time around after the tragic events of 2025. “It is a responsibility to fight for Diogo’s dream,” says the coach, who, since the deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva in a car accident, has included the former’s name on his squad announcements. “He [Jota] is our strength and our joy. His spirit, his strength and his example are the driving force, and they always will be.”

Roberto Martínez was close to leaving the national team a year ago (with José Mourinho waiting in the wings), but winning the Nations League earned him a vote of confidence from the new FPF president, the former international referee Pedro Proença. Although he suffered his first-ever defeat in a qualifying phase after 43 matches, the Spanish co