Portugal knocked out by Spain, faces harsh criticism from Quaresma

06.07.26 FT World Cup

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Former Portuguese football star Ricardo Quaresma reacted strongly to Portugal’s elimination from the 2026 World Cup at the hands of Spain on Monday night in the round of 16.

Portugal fell by the narrowest of margins (1-0), after a late goal from Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino (90+1).

Portugal under fire from Quaresma’s criticism

Quaresma did not hide his disappointment in comments relayed by several Portuguese media outlets. “Everyone was saying this team was the best in Portugal’s history. But the best in what way? What have they achieved? In the end, we’re heading home with our heads down,” he declared.

The former Sporting CP player then pointed the finger at the performances across all areas of the pitch. “We have great players and outstanding talent in midfield, but they fell well short of expectations during this World Cup. The attack failed to deliver, and the defense often looked disorganized,” he assessed.

Head coach Roberto Martínez was not spared from the former Portugal international’s criticism. “Since he arrived, I’ve never seen Portugal put in a truly convincing performance. He’s tried countless tactical setups, but none have really worked. And today, we’re leaving the competition with a squad that many considered the best in the country’s history,” Quaresma said.

Clearly agitated, Quaresma concluded his remarks on a bitter note: “I’d rather stop here, because if I keep talking, I might end up saying things I’ll regret.”

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Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

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