Portugal must find their way through World Cup chaos, says Martinez

LISBON, May 15 : Roberto Martinez has seen enough World Cups to know they are more a travelling circus of heat, humidity, penalties, bad bounces and sudden storms than a series or certainties. After leading Belgium in 2018 and 2022, for Portugal's manager this year's tournament may be the wildest ride yet.

Speaking to Reuters in an interview in Lisbon on Thursday, Martinez said Portugal's impressive momentum led by an ageless Cristiano Ronaldo would count for little once the tournament begins, with the expanded 48-team World Cup across three countries presenting a leap into the unknown.

"We're talking about going into the unknown," Martinez said. "Forty-eight teams means a longer period. You need to have incredible resilience... You don’t prepare for iconic moments — you prepare the team to perform under any circumstances.”

Portugal arrive with belief after a flawless qualifying campaign and a Nations League title, but Martinez was quick to douse any temptation to confuse form with entitlement.

"Anything that we've done until now just gives you three games in a World Cup. It doesn't give you anything," he said. "You arrive at the World Cup, you've got three games in a group phase, and everything starts there and then."

Martinez had the chance to observe the Club World Cup in the United States last year as a member of FIFA's Technical Study Group, an experience he described as essential for understanding what Portugal may face.

The lessons were not merely tactical, but meteorological, logistical and psychological.

"The complexity of playing with different time zones, with playing with the heat, the humidity, almost moments of uncertainty when you get the storms," he said. "There are many aspects that are very, very different how