Memory of Diogo Jota motivating Portugal's World Cup, says manager Martinez

[p]Portugal were held to draws by DR ‌Congo and Colombia either side of a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan as they finished second ‌in Group K behind the Colombians in a tough opening ‌stage.[/p][p]"[b]Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup, the preparation was very important,[/b]" ‌Martinez said, referring to the three group games that he deemed "[b]difficult[/b]."[/p][p]Speaking ‌to reporters on the eve of the game, Martinez said he was aware of the challenge Croatia would pose, with them having finished runners-up in 2018 and ‌third in 2022.[/p][p]"[b]Croatia is a team we know ⁠very well. They also know our ‌strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]The ​Spaniard faced criticism after Cristiano Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes in his team's last group game against Colombia, with Portuguese ​media raising concerns about a lack of game time for their other striker Goncalo Ramos.[/p][p]Martinez brushed off those concerns on Wednesday, saying his ⁠players know what is expected ​of them and will be ready when called upon.[/p][p]"[b]What’s important is that all the players are ready to play for the team - whether in the starting lineup ... or on the bench,[/b]" he said.[/p][embed guid="4d85e602-51ad-4505-96be-b3cd2141c2c6" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCX5mQbZK8" social-type="youtube" /][p]Much of the focus on ‌the pitch will surround 41-year-old Ronaldo and his former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, 40, as the two captains lock horns in what is expected to be a final World Cup game for one of them.[/p][p]Martinez hailed both players as icons of the sport, who were "[b]above public opinion[/b]."[/p][p]"[b]People talk about age, but age is just a number. What matters is what they do and the example they set in the locker room,[/b]" he said.[/p][p]The game will carry emotional significance for Portugal as they ‌take to the field a day before the anniversary of the death ​of their forward Diogo Jota in a car crash.[/p][p]Midfielder Vitinha ‌said honouring Jota's memory will be an added motivation for the team to seal a spot in the last 16.[/p][p]"[b]We have all the motivation to win tomorrow ... for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal. This is ⁠why we're going to do everything ⁠we can, really our best, ‌to win against Croatia,[/b]" he said.[/p]