Joao Palhinha’s recent resurgence at Tottenham Hotspur has reopened the debate about whether he should start in midfield for Portugal at the 2026 World Cup.
Palhinha’s late strike at Wolverhampton Wanderers recently earned Tottenham their first Premier League win since December.
He followed up with a fine performance at Aston Villa on Sunday, providing the team with a platform to secure another hugely important victory.
With that in mind, read on as we assess whether the 30-year-old should start at the base of Portugal’s midfield in North America this summer.
De Zerbi recognises the value of experience
New Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi has gone for a pragmatic approach in the middle of the park and the move has paid dividends.
De Zerbi picked Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall alongside Conor Gallagher in the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, but his decision backfired.
Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka ran the show and his performance, coupled with an unfortunate injury for Archie Gray, probably persuaded De Derbi to head down a different path.
Palhinha played alongside Rodrigo Bentancurm at Villa Park, while Gallagher was deployed ahead of them. It was the first time they have started together this season.
They outworked Ross Barkley, Lamare Bogarde and Youri Tielemans, which gave Spurs the platform they needed to secure a vital victory. It was a similar story back in January where Palhina’s dominant performance wasn’t enough to secure FA Cup progress against Villa.
Tottenham now have a template they can use for the rest of the season and one which could ultimately preserve their Premier League status.
De Zerbi’s recognition of Palhinha’s qualities may boost his chances of playing for Portugal this summer, although that is far from guaranteed.
Photo: IMAGO
Martinez may need to rethink his stance on Palhinha
Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is renowned for preferring technical midfielders. It is an ethos he has stuck to since his first managerial role at Swansea City.
Pallhinha does not fit that description. He is a ball-winner – a destroyer in the truest sense of the word. He thrives on being physical in the middle of the park.
Martinez prefers his number six to be more cultured, which hands Ruben Neves a significant advantage over his more limited compatriot.
However, a strong case can be made for suggesting that Palhinha should be tasked with anchoring Portugal’s midfield this summer.
If Martinez starts Cristiano Ronaldo, he will already have a player in his line-up who will not contribute to the team’s defensive efforts.
While Neves is not quite as a static as Ronaldo, his presence in the middle of the park will further weaken the spine of Portugal’s team.
Martinez may get away with that approach against so-called weaker sides, but he cannot afford to take any chances when Portugal play top-class opposition.
Martinez’s stubborn nature could scupper Portugal’s chances
Although Neves is a decent player, it is worth noting that he is plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League (SPL) rather than one of the top leagues in Europe.
By contrast, Palhinha is operating effectively in the English Premier League – the most competitive domestic competition on the planet.
Martinez’s preference for technicians over workers has been prevalent throughout his managerial career and has repeatedly proven to be his Achilles heel.
The Portugal manager may feel that selecting Palhinha goes against his principles, but pragmatism undoubtedly has its place in professional football.
De Zerbi’s ability to recognise this factor and adapt accordingly could save Tottenham from dropping into the Championship at the end of the season.
If Martinez chooses to be stubborn, Portugal’s long wait to win the World Cup could go on for at least another four years.
