Roberto Martinez holding back another Golden Generation? DR Congo stuns Portugal and earns their first World Cup point

Is Roberto Martinez preventing Portugal's golden generation from flourishing? (Image credits – Heute; licence details) 

Portugal arrived at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as clear favourites, with high expectations for them to deliver this time. With one of the most talented squads in the tournament and stars in every department, they were expected to start their campaign with a comfortable win over Congo.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw that felt like a defeat to the Selecao das Quinas.

DR Congo defended valiantly, and credit must be given to them for their resilience, disciplined organisation that left no room for Portugal between the lines, and fighting spirit, as it is always difficult to equalise against a powerful opponent like Portugal.

Many fans, pundits, and news outlets have rushed to blame and scapegoat the players, but the real problem exists on the Portuguese bench. In our team preview, I discussed how Roberto Martinez could be the squad's weak link.

Following this result, there will be questions about whether Martinez is the best man to get the most out of Portugal's golden generation. On paper, Portugal's squad remains one of the strongest and most talented in international football, with impressive technical prowess, creativity, and big-game experience.

However, despite having such a superior squad, they appeared predictable and out of ideas when put under pressure by Congo. Martinez's team controlled possession but struggled to create enough chances, and we know that possession without penetration is meaningless. The midfielders moved slowly on the ball, and the pattern was consistent, making it easier for Congo to tackle.

The Africans remained disciplined and compact, while Portugal continued to rotate the ball in front of Congo's box but failed to penetrate. Congo seemed to be fine with Martinez's side rotating the ball sideways, and they appeared content to absorb all of the pressure.

The manager's decision to start Bernardo Silva on the right wing over Francisco Conceição failed miserably, as the new Real Madrid signing failed to make any impact and had to be replaced at halftime. Many viewers were disappointed because the substitutions came too late, after his side had already lost the game.

This draw against Congo has revealed a consistent pattern on Martinez's sides. He's previously had success against teams that give him room to play, but he's also struggled to score against disciplined teams with little space between the lines.

Portugal fans will be disappointed, and rightfully so, as being outscored in expected goals (xG) by DR Congo is a new low. Congo, on the other hand, deserves all of the credit for capitalising on Portugal's mistakes and choosing to fight back rather than being overwhelmed.

Roberto Martinez previously led Belgium's golden generation but failed to achieve major success. He has two games left to prove himself after dropping points in their first game raised doubts about his ability to lead Portugal's golden generation to victory.

Their path will now be difficult as they face stronger opponents; Uzbekistan and Colombia are up next, making their qualification for the next round difficult. There is talent on the roster, but tactical adaptability, team chemistry, and the ability to overcome adversity are essential if a team wants to be champions.

The players deserve criticism for not taking their chances or taking enough risks during the game, but the manager bears the most responsibility for this shameful performance. Portugal's weakness this year isn't in their defence, midfield, or frontline; it's the team's boss himself

If Portugal fails to win this time, not only will the players be held accountable to the fans and media, but also the head coach, Roberto Martinez. If Portugal is to achieve their World Cup goals, Roberto Martinez must find solutions quickly to turn things around.