Jorge Jesus is the main candidate to take over Portugal, says newspaper

Roberto Martínez confirmed his departure from the Portuguese team after their elimination in the round of 16 of the World Cup. According to the newspaper "A Bola", Jorge Jesus will be the replacement in charge of the team.

The name of the Portuguese coach had already been circulated for a few weeks as a possible successor in the position. Martínez announced his decision after the defeat to Spain, which culminated in Portugal's farewell to the World Cup.

Jorge Jesus has been free on the market since May this year, when he left Al Nassr after winning the Saudi title. The 71-year-old professional has extensive experience in Portuguese football, with notable spells at clubs such as Benfica and Sporting.

Portugal's World Cup campaign
Portugal was part of Group K of the World Cup, alongside Colombia, Congo and Uzbekistan. Their debut in the competition was a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the second round, the Portuguese team beat Uzbekistan 5-0. In the direct confrontation in the last round against Colombia, Portugal sought to lead the group, but the 0-0 draw guaranteed second place.

In the round of 32, Portugal faced Croatia and came up behind on the scoreboard in the second half. Fifteen minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized from the penalty spot. In stoppage time, Gonçalo Ramos scored and guaranteed the turnaround and classification.

The opponent in the round of 16 was Spain. Portugal started well, with a good first half and chances to open the scoring. However, the second half had a slower pace, and the Spanish scored in stoppage time, winning the match and eliminating the Portuguese.

Roberto Martínez's farewell
After the defeat and elimination, Roberto Martínez held a press conference and confirmed his departure from the Portuguese national team.

"It is true that it was my last game for Portugal. I want to thank the Portuguese people. I carry with me a memory that will last a lifetime. The players did an incredible job, they have a lot of talent, and they were also committed to having a team", declared the coach.

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Source: CNN