Portugal World Cup Preparation: Martinez Sees Nigeria Friendly As Key Build-Up

Portugal use a friendly against Nigeria as the final on-field tune-up before facing DR Congo at the World Cup. Roberto Martinez views the match as a chance to mirror key challenges from the opening group fixture, while also protecting players who already carry heavy workloads.

The squad meet Nigeria on Wednesday, then travel to the United States, where their World Cup campaign starts on June 17. Martinez confirmed that selection against Nigeria will not reveal the starting side for Portugal’s tournament opener against DR Congo.

Asked if the Nigeria line-up will match the World Cup starting 11, Martinez replied: "No. In the first game [USA], there weren't five or six players, plus Diogo Costa." Martinez stressed that rotation remains central at this stage, with decisions shaped by fitness data and match rhythm rather than fixed hierarchies.

Nigeria reach this point after losing to DR Congo on penalties in World Cup play-offs, and Martinez expects a comparable test. The coach considers Nigeria’s style close enough to DR Congo’s strengths to deliver useful rehearsal scenarios, especially in transitions and physical duels across midfield and defence.

Martinez explained the wider plan around the final warm-up. "We continue, it's the last preparation game before the World Cup, but our focus is individual, trying to recover and give minutes to the players who need it. Our first objective is to get the players on the plane to Miami prepared for the World Cup. That's the number one objective. Against Nigeria, we have an opportunity to work on aspects that are similar to the strengths that DR Congo also has. It's a different African team, with a lot of tactical flexibility. It's a demanding opponent, it's another test to prepare our group. There are many games where we haven't worked with a starting eleven. Portugal's strength is the commitment of all the players. My responsibility and that of the coaching staff is to prepare the players to help the team and that when they are on the pitch they use their talent and their attitude to win games for Portugal."

This World Cup is Martinez’s third as a head coach. Belgium finished third under Martinez in 2018, then went out in the 2022 group stage. Across those tournaments, Martinez has won seven of ten matches, giving a 70% win rate.

Among coaches with at least ten World Cup games, only Tele Santana, Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low boast higher win percentages. Santana stands at 80%, Deschamps at 74% and Low at 71%, placing Martinez just behind that group on the all-time list.

Martinez underlined that Portugal’s approach against Nigeria, and at the World Cup, relies on the entire squad rather than a fixed core. With emphasis on tactical flexibility, conditioning and shared responsibility, Portugal intend to arrive in Miami with a fit group and clear understanding of DR Congo’s likely threats.