Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez admitted his team lacked intensity in their 2-0 defeat to Georgia but insists the game was a good preparation for his team ahead of the Euro 2024 knockout stages, Soccernet.football reports.
The Selecao had already secured the top spot in Group F heading into the game against Georgia, but the outcome of their match against the Crusaders would determine their opponents in the last 16.
Georgia’s 2-0 victory and subsequent progression into the Round of 16 meant Hungary were eliminated, leaving the Selecao to face Slovenia, who handed Martinez his first defeat in the job in a friendly in March.
Despite suffering his first competitive loss as Portugal manager, Martinez is confident the Selecao are now better prepared for whatever challenge the knockout stages hold.
“We made a lot of changes. The focus was on preparing all the players,” Martinez said. “Now we are more prepared.
“We had players on the bench today that we did not want to use, because we were first in the group and the goal was achieved.
“It’s a difficult way to prepare for the next game, because we don’t like to lose. It’s the first official game we’ve lost. But we’re ready now.”
Martinez acknowledged the difficulty of facing a team in Georgia who so desperately needed to win, facing elimination without victory.
“It was a day when we didn’t have the same intensity as the opponent,” he said. “For Georgia, this was a final; for us, it was one step before the round of 16. That was part of the final result.”