Will Ronaldo rest? — The smoke bomb thrown by Martinez before the match

Portugal coach Martinez said something very intriguing before the match: "Cristiano Ronaldo will accept being benched. Rotation is inevitable given the tight schedule."

As soon as those words were spoken, media worldwide exploded. Ronaldo resting? The 41-year-old veteran played the full 90 minutes in two consecutive matches, so resting in the third is indeed reasonable. But the question is — is this a smoke bomb thrown by Martinez?

If Ronaldo really rests, what would Portugal's attack look like? The first match against DR Congo is the best example — 75% possession, 7 shots, 1 on target, held to a 1-1 draw. Bruno Fernandes is the core, no doubt, but he needs Ronaldo up front to draw defensive attention. Without Ronaldo, Fernandes' passes are like arrows without a target.

But if Ronaldo starts, can he withstand Colombia's physical defense? A 41-year-old body facing repeated collisions from Sanchez and Lerma — can his stamina last 70 minutes? All huge question marks.

Martinez also said before the match: "All 26 players are healthy and available. Ronaldo is in great form after scoring a brace last match." This again seems to hint that Ronaldo will start. So is it rest or start? Maybe even Martinez himself hasn't made a final decision.

My personal judgment: Ronaldo is likely to start, but won't play the full game. If Portugal can't break through in the first half, Ronaldo might be substituted after 60 minutes; if they secure an early victory, Ronaldo might rest even earlier. Rest is certain, but when to rest — it depends on the flow of the match.

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