Schmeichel: Martinez is 'wasting' Portugal after DR Congo draw

Peter Schmeichel launched a scathing attack on Roberto Martinez, accusing the Portugal boss of repeating the same mistakes that "wasted" Belgium's golden generation. The former Manchester United goalkeeper was left fuming after a toothless Selecao were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener.

Schmeichel criticised Martinez’s tactical setup and the decision to leave high-impact attackers on the bench, questioning why the likes of Rafael Leao and Joao Felix were not used more effectively. "How can you leave players like Joao Felix and Rafael Leao on the bench while maintaining a system that clearly isn't working?" he asked, adding that "his tactics are too conservative" and substitutions usually came too late to change the game.

Other pundits highlighted Martinez's management of 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo as a major stumbling block.

Portugal

peter schmeichel, roberto martinez, portugal, dr congo, 2026 world, joao felix, rafael leao, cristiano ronaldo, tactical setup, late substitutions