Portugal suffered an upset loss, and their 11-game winning streak came to an end, leaving Martinez in a dilemma
The last international break before the European Championship is the last chance for managers who will lead their teams to the European Championship finals this summer to test their tactical play, test the depth of their squad and examine the form of their players.
For example: the coach of the Portuguese team, the Spaniard Martinez.
In this European Championship qualifiers, Martinez led the Portuguese team to become the only team in the history of the European Championship qualifiers to win all 10 games, giving Portuguese fans hope of regaining the Delaunay Cup. However, Martinez also knows that after coaching the Five Shields Army, he easily won 10 consecutive victories, in addition to his own guidance and outstanding player ability, but also a little bit of grouping.
Therefore, this international break, Martinez gave a squad of up to 32 players for Portugal and opened the 8-up and 8-down squad mode for the first time.
In the first game against Sweden, Portugal blossomed more, with Bruno and Bernardo leading their team-mates to a 5-2 victory, extending Martinez's coaching winning streak to 11 games. Subsequently, players such as Bruno, Bernardo, Diaz, Leao, Ramos and other players who performed well said goodbye to the national team and returned to the club to prepare for the game.
In the second match against Slovenia, Martinez discharged an attacking lineup with captain Aveiro as the arrow who did not enter the squad for the first game, and the purpose was naturally to continue the winning streak and hone the lineup for the European Championship.
Although Slovenia qualified for the European Championship finals for the first time in 24 years, they are only ranked 58th in the world, so there is no reason why Portugal should not win even with eight players in the rotation.
After the opening, the first batch of five shields in the purple and red jerseys of the European Cup quickly reversed the guest and took control of the game. In the first half, the Portuguese team held nearly seventy percent of the possession, suppressed the Slovenian team in their own half, and grasped the absolute initiative.
However, in the face of tall and flexible Slovenian players, the Portuguese players could not play with their fast and flexible advantages, and the two main players in the midfield, Bruno Bruno and Bernardo, were rested for this game, and it was difficult for the Portuguese team's attack to pose a threat to Oblak's goal.
Aveiro, who was expecting to continue scoring goals and regain his form in this game, struggled even more, neither as an offensive fulcrum nor as a tandem team. In desperation, the Portuguese players could only achieve partial explosions through their individual ability, but unfortunately Otavio and Cancelo fell to the ground after bursting into the penalty area, and neither could get a penalty.
In the first half, the two sides exchanged scores, with Aveiro complaining to the referee about the two decisions on his way to the dressing room.
In the second half, Portugal continued to control the initiative, but Slovenia stepped up their pressing, and Aveiro finally had his first shot of the game, but unfortunately his adjusted volley in the box slid past the goalkeeper. In the 72nd minute, the most heart-wrenching scene of the whole game appeared - Aveiro was cut off with the ball in front, and just when he was trying to cover up his embarrassment by covering his feet, the ball had already advanced to the backfield, and Cherin received a wonderful pass from Sheshko and cut into the penalty area to shoot, and a low shot pierced Costa's ten fingers.
The broadcast camera was given to Aveiro for the first time, lonely and helpless, and he wrote all the sadness.
Portugal went on a rampage after conceding the goal, with Felix's header bounced off the post and missed a good chance to equalise. Slovenia then sealed the win when Elshnik drifted down the right and forced his foot to shoot home to kill the game.
In the 85th minute, Portugal were awarded a free-kick in a good position, but Aveiro's shot was saved by Oblak, the only shot on target from Aveiro in the game.
In the end, Portugal lost in an upset, and the 11-game winning streak came to an end. Aveiro took all his anger out on the referee on duty when he left the field, he spat at the fourth official on the sidelines, stretched out two fingers, and left with a curse.
Obviously, the legend in the history of Portuguese football has not let go of that obsession in his heart. But Martinez's question is, how to use this highly competitive legend who refuses to back down in the European Championship?