To face Croatia in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has decided to leave Bernardo Silva out of the starting lineup. Portugal will be hunting for a coveted spot in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, July 2nd, as they square off against a dangerous Croatia squad at Toronto Stadium. While international icon Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other premier stars are locked into the lineup, the high-profile omission of Bernardo Silva from the starting sheet has immediately sparked intense debate among fans.
Silva will begin the match against Croatia on the substitutes’ bench due to a purely tactical decision by head coach Roberto Martínez. The newly minted Real Madrid playmaker is reportedly in peak physical condition and completely free of any injury concerns, meaning his exclusion from the opening XI is entirely a reflection of the specific strategic blueprint the Spanish manager has drawn up for today’s encounter.
By leaving the veteran midfield on the bench, Martinez has opted for a far more direct, vertical attacking approach to dismantle the Croatian defense. Down the right wing, a position Silva has consistently locked down in recent outings, the manager has instead deployed Pedro Neto (a less technical but highly explosive speedster) opposite Rafael Leao on the left, while anchoring the midfield with a dual-pivot of Joao Neves and Vitinha.
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