Portugal's coach hits back at criticism: Spain and Argentina also didn't win their opening matches when they went on to win the title, and he will continue to use Ronaldo.

In a World Cup Group K opener that ended on June 18 Beijing time, top contenders Portugal were unexpectedly held to a 1-1 draw by African debutants DR Congo, missing out on a winning start.

After the match, Portugal's coach Martinez addressed the criticism, emphasizing that a draw in the first game is far from disastrous, as Spain and Argentina also lost their opening games when they later won the World Cup.

Martinez said: "The World Cup is a competition where you don't always perform at your best in every match. In the last World Cup, Argentina lost their first game to Saudi Arabia but went on to win it all; in 2010, Spain lost their opener to Switzerland and still lifted the trophy. It's a process. Our duty is to deliver the highest level possible. The emotion of winning the World Cup shouldn't exist in the group stage."

Martinez also made it clear that he won't change his approach to using Ronaldo just because they didn't win the first match: "The next game isn't in three days but in six. The key is to ensure every player is at 100%. We don't focus on Ronaldo's age, only on what he can contribute on the pitch."

"When the team urgently needs a goal, substituting the best scorer in football history makes no sense. His vast experience in the penalty area is crucial, and his ability to draw defenders is equally vital. Every player has a specific role on the field; when we think about how to score, we must keep Ronaldo on the pitch."

In this match, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes, registering 3 shots with none on target, and missed two close-range chances in the second half. He ended up with a rating of only 6.1, the lowest among all Portuguese players who took the field.