Bruno Fernandes: Portugal had the quality to win the World Cup
Following Portugal's World Cup exit, Bruno Fernandes expressed disappointment in the team's performance, while Cristiano Ronaldo played his final international tournament.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Portugal, one of the primary favorites heading into the tournament, saw their World Cup campaign cut short in the Round of 16. A narrow 0-1 defeat to Spain marked a painful exit for a team that carried high expectations.
Bruno Fernandes, the Manchester United midfielder, did not mince words regarding the result. He admitted that the current squad possessed the necessary quality to lift the trophy, lamenting the failure to maximize their performance.
There is no point in talking much about it now because we are already out of the World Cup, but it was a missed opportunity. I know that Portugal has never won the World Cup, and we always set very high goals. But I can say with certainty: this team had the quality to win the tournament. Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes stressed the need for the team to evolve and establish a more distinct, confident identity. The match also signaled a symbolic end of an era, as 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo played his final match for the national team, concluding his international journey with three goals in the tournament.
Following the elimination, head coach Roberto Martinez confirmed his departure. Reports suggest that Jorge Jesus is the frontrunner to take over the managerial position.