Euro 2024: Martinez Reflects on Cruelty of Football after Portugal’s Exit

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez expressed his dismay at the harsh realities of football during Euro 2024.

Martinez shared his thoughts after Portugal’s exit from the tournament, following Joao Felix’s missed penalty in the shootout against France in the quarter-finals on Friday, which ended Portugal’s aspirations for a second title.

In his post-match interview (via Ojogo), Martinez said, “We must be proud of the players, who fought and performed admirably. Football can be cruel. It was a tremendous challenge; we aimed to bring joy to the Portuguese people, and this team exemplified Portugal’s values.”

“The team’s spirit is resilient, supporting players during challenging times. Penalties are part of football, and only those taking them can miss. We did well overall, with strong team unity. Beyond the Euros, there’s life to consider,” the Spaniard concluded.