Martinez’s Tactical Switch Leaves Bernardo Silva on Bench for Portugal vs Colombia

Bernardo Silva has been a cornerstone of Portugal in recent years, a reputation reinforced by his stellar performances for Manchester City, where he captained the side in the 2025‑26 season. With the top spot in the group still up for grabs in the final first‑round match against Colombia, questions are emerging about his omission from the starting XI.

Silva will begin the match on the bench following a specific tactical decision by head coach Roberto Martinez. Seeking a more direct attacking approach, the Spanish manager has chosen the pace of Pedro Neto and João Félix to stretch Colombia’s defence, resulting in the City playmaker being left out of the opening eleven.

This is the second consecutive occasion that Bernardo Silva has been named as a substitute during Portugal’s 2026 World Cup campaign. After starting in the 1‑1 draw with DR Congo in the tournament opener, the midfielder was omitted from the line‑up against Uzbekistan and saw only 14 minutes as a second‑half sub.

Silva becomes casualty of Martinez’s tactical shift

Throughout Roberto Martinez’s tenure as Portugal’s manager, Bernardo Silva has been a regular starter. Whether anchoring the side during Euro 2024, the 2025 Nations League, or the demanding European World Cup qualifiers, the Manchester City midfielder was considered indispensable.

Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha of Portugal.

The 1‑1 draw with DR Congo prompted Martinez to rethink his midfield structure for the remainder of the tournament. To add fluidity and balance, the coach introduced PSG’s double pivot of Vitinha and João Neves to control the centre of the pitch.

With the two PSG players anchoring the deeper midfield roles, only one advanced central slot remained, which naturally went to Bruno Fernandes after his outstanding 2025‑26 Premier League season. This reshuffle pushed Bernardo Silva onto the right wing, where his comparatively slower pace and isolated 1‑v‑1 dribbling reduced his impact, ultimately costing him a starting berth.

With no central midfield positions available and a clear preference for fast, traditional wingers on the flanks, the City captain has been relegated to a bench role. Martinez’s high‑stakes gamble will be judged by the outcome of the match against Colombia.

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