DALLAS, United States, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez praised his players' commitment and resilience after their World Cup campaign ended with a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday.
Substitute Mikel Merino scored the only goal in stoppage time as Spain edged Portugal in a tight Iberian derby.
"It was not a defeat in the sense of how we competed," Martinez said. "We played against one of the favorites, we looked each other in the eye, and we stayed true to our values. We tried until the very end and gave everything we had."
The Portugal coach said knockout football is often decided by the smallest moments rather than the overall balance of play.
"When you have great teams facing each other, that's what happens," he said. "Sometimes the ball goes in, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes a substitute scores the decisive goal. Those details make the difference between winning a World Cup or not."
Martinez said Portugal's performance should be viewed in the context of the team's consistency in recent years, highlighting its ability to qualify regularly for major tournaments and compete with the world's elite despite the country's relatively small population.
"We are only 10 million people, but we continue to produce outstanding footballers," he said. "What is important is consistency, focusing on the things you can control and continuing to compete at the highest level."
Martinez also paid tribute to captain Cristiano Ronaldo, describing him as "an exemplary captain" whose commitment had never wavered during their three-and-a-half years together.
"There aren't many Cristiano Ronaldos," Martinez said. "His dream was to win the World Cup, and he gave everything for that dream. He has been an example as a footballer, as a captain and as a human being."
Martinez confirmed that his contract with Portugal had expired and said it was "the end of a cycle," adding that the team now needed "a new voice and a new leader." ■
