Roberto ready for the most unpredictable tournament
HE may have a soft spot for England but Roberto Martinez won’t hesitate to pile the pain on Gareth Southgate should the pair clash in this summer’s European Championships.
The Belgium boss oversaw two defeats of the country he has called home since the 1990s at the last World Cup in Russia. He then took Belgium to the Nations League finals, pipping Southgate’s England.
After managing Wigan, Swansea and Everton, Spaniard Martinez is viewed as an honorary Englishman but his Belgium team are among the favourites for the Euros as the world’s No.1-ranked side.
Martinez gives that tag short shrift and said: “You have teams travelling all over Europe – this tournament will be the most unpredictable European Championships we’ve ever seen.
“You’ve got so many good teams – France,
England, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, I could go on.
“England playing so many games at Wembley is fantastic for them but we’ve got a very good record against them – I think Gareth has probably had enough of us.”
Martinez takes great pride in having helped England: “John Stones was a player we gave a Premier League debut to,” he said.
“So to see him grow in a World Cup was fantastic.
What Gareth has created is an environment where players can express themselves.”
Martinez looks forward to Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne linking up with his squad tomorrow after surgery on the eye socket damaged in the Champions League Final.
Martinez said: “It went very well, very positively.
“That small intervention was necessary with a view to the long term. He will not need a long recovery. The operation only took 20 minutes.
“The medical staff is satisfied with the result.”