Portugal Control Without Vitinha In First Half Draw Against Mexico, Says Martinez

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Portugal drew 0-0 with Mexico in Mexico City, yet Roberto Martinez praised the squad’s control and structure, especially without Cristiano Ronaldo and with Vitinha only playing the second half. Martinez highlighted how the team managed the first period and then adapted once the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder entered.

Portugal created more threat before the break despite missing Vitinha, finishing the opening half with 0.63 expected goals compared with Mexico’s 0.12. Martinez viewed that spell as a useful test of Portugal’s tactical discipline in a demanding away environment against competitive opposition.

Vitinha came on at half-time and quickly shaped the match. Despite only 45 minutes on the pitch, Vitinha completed 67 of 70 passes and had 74 touches, the second-highest figure in the match. Vitinha also played 27 passes into the final third, more than any other player.

Vitinha is an excellent player, Martinez said. He knows how to control the ball, defend the game with the ball, and take the game where we need it to go. We wanted to see if we could see Portugal controlling the game without Vitinha. And I was very pleased. But yes, it's true that he's a key player for us.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match through injury, which opened space in attack for Paulinho, who plays for Toluca in Mexico. Paulinho came on from the bench to win a fourth Portugal cap, and the 33-year-old did not register a shot but still impressed the head coach.

What surprised me wasn't what he can bring to the national team, but how quickly he understood the group, Martinez said of the striker. He integrated very well into the locker room. He's a player who would fit well in any national team in the world. The problem is that here, he has in front of him perhaps the best player of all time for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo, and a player like Goncalo Ramos, who won the Champions League. It was very good to work with him, and today he showed that he's in the best moment of his career. He's a very intelligent player who creates space with his final movements, and it's very good for us to have a player like him.

Martinez’s comments underlined Portugal’s depth during the goalless draw with Mexico, as the team coped without Ronaldo and initially without Vitinha. The match offered minutes to Paulinho and others, while reinforcing Vitinha’s importance in midfield structure and confirming the squad’s competitive options ahead of future fixtures.