“We know we’ve never won the World Cup; that tells us it’s hard. We know things can change fast, that talent alone is not enough, that small details can go against you, and of course it’s a hammer blow when you don’t succeed, but let us dream. I think we can. And that’s the attitude I want our team to have. I’m not superstitious but I do like numerology. And that’s with me being born on 13 July.”
A Friday? Martínez laughs. “In England they always said: ‘Wow, bad luck!’ ‘What a day.’ No! I like it. And it’s lovely to think of the 2016 Euros … Eusébio: top scorer in 66, Ballon d’Or winner in 65 … 60 years since his World Cup. 2026. It’s all sixes. Let’s dream. Why not?”