Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez says that the “small details” will determine the winner of Euro 2024.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has said that the “small details” will determine the winner of this summer’s European Championship.
The Iberian nation will open their Euro 2024 challenge against Czech Republic on June 18, while they will also take on Turkey and Georgia in Group F this summer.
England and France are viewed by many as the favourites to triumph at the competition, but Martinez has played down suggestions that there is a clear favourite for the trophy.
The Spaniard also discussed the early stages of his time as Portugal manager, revealing that he met with all of the players before announcing his first squad in early 2023.
“Before Portugal I had the experience of Belgium. What I learned is that I could not work with a group of players without meeting them. Everyone knows the players, everyone can follow them, we have the facilities now of seeing everything a player does, in training, in games,” he told FIVEUK.
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Martinez says “small details” will be vital at Euro 2024
“But you need to meet the person behind the player. So I got the list of 26 Portugal players and I went to meet every player. For me it was very important to have a starting point with everybody. We had two qualifying games and from the first day I had to meet the players before I call them.
“Being able to win a big tournament is down to details. There’s a false perception of the winner. We all feel they turn up and win 3-0 every game. Look at Spain, world champions in 2010.
“Everyone speaks about the best national team ever. They lost the first game. They had a penalty shootout with Paraguay. These moments. An Arjen Robben 1v1 [in the final]. Small details.
“What prepares you for the small details, expecting the unexpected, facing adversity. Those aspects come with games, being together. That’s the excitement we’re looking forward to. We have three games at the Euros, it’s how much we can grow in those three games.
“I always felt the winner of the big tournament is always in relation to the journey they had in those three games. So you earn the right of arriving at a big tournament.
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Martinez claims seven teams could win Euro 2024
“And then there are two teams: the one that arrives, and then the one that grows into those seven games. We’re looking forward to having every aspect as clean and as ready as we can.
“I don’t think there are favourites. I think there are seven national teams that on their day, small details can allow you to progress. The Germans and the Italians go into every tournament believing that they should be winning.
“With those two national teams, you don’t have to look at what’s happened in the last two years. When they’re in a tournament they’re always competitive.
“Then England, Spain, France, Belgium and Portugal. There are seven nations that each in their own right should be believing they can go far. But again, it’s that false perception of the winner. Big tournaments are won by very small details.”
Portugal beat Finland 4-2 in their last friendly on June 4, and they will now tackle Croatia on Saturday evening in their final fixture before their European Championship campaign begins.