Portugal manager Roberto Martinez has shared how the memory of the late Diogo Jota inspired his team’s dramatic World Cup knockout victory over Croatia. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.
Highlighting how the final scoreline beautifully mirrored Jota‘s international jersey number, Martinez stated that the deceased would be remembered for always showing strength and energy with the national team.
Roberto added that Diogo will be super proud of his teammates while he watches from heaven.
His words, “The World Cups are like that, they’re not just group stage games anymore. The first half was fantastic. The intensity, the arrival in the final third… There’s always danger against a team like Croatia, which has a great ability to use the ball. To concede a goal and still believe strongly, to use the players on the bench. That’s the mentality that helps win games.
Perfect games in the World Cups don’t exist anymore. Discipline, the ability to have talent, but then the ability to play with heart. Our players enjoyed it for Portugal, for Ricardo Carvalho’s father, and for our Diogo Jota and Andre.
It was a typical Diogo game. 2-1, which is number 21, against Croatia, which was the last team he scored against, at Jamor. Many signs. Diogo showed a lot of strength and energy. Now he’s very happy and proud.
We have many different profiles. There isn’t a player in the World Cup who can take a penalty like Cristiano did, and there isn’t another striker with the strength and ability to get into the box like Goncalo Ramos. We had more players who could help.
Goncalo getting into the starting eleven? That’s what we want. There are many players, Joao Felix is also having a very good World Cup.”
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