LISBON – New Portugal coach Roberto Martinez praised the positive influence of record-breaker Cristiano Ronaldo as they beat Liechtenstein 4-0 on Thursday in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign opener.

The Spaniard, appointed in January after he left Belgium following the Qatar World Cup, said matches against smaller teams could become traps but that the Portuguese had made the perfect start in Group J against the tiny Alpine principality.

It marked a record 197th cap for Ronaldo, who scored the last two goals at the Jose Alvalade Stadium to extend his record-breaking international tally to 120.

“It was very, very positive,” Martinez said.

“It is always very difficult to play this type of game, they are ‘trap games’. But the way we played with the ball and how we smothered the danger of Liechtenstein was very important.”

The 49-year-old took over from Fernando Santos after Portugal lost in the World Cup quarter-final to Morocco.

His line-up, however, did not differ much from his predecessor and Portugal were quick to take the lead through Joao Cancelo, but failed to add more goals until the start of the second half through Bernardo Silva.

“We started the first half well but then got frustrated,” Martinez added.

“We have to grow in these games. The performance in the second half was much better. It was an opportunity to gain three points and more than that for the players to get to know me and me them.

“It’s always complicated when you have a lot of opposition players in front of goal. You have to control your emotions, you cannot be too individualistic.”

There were questions over whether Ronaldo’s 20-year international career had ended in Qatar as he will be 39 by the time Euro 2024 kicks off.

But Martinez has strongly defended his decision to keep Ronaldo in the fold, restoring him to the starting line-up after he had been benched for the last two games of the World Cup. And Martinez was delighted with his contribution.

“To be in the national team, you have to be committed,” he said.

“It’s a new cycle. It’s important for a player to show commitment and that we can use his experience, and Cristiano shows that. He has a lot of commitment and experience.”

Despite his age, Ronaldo still believes he can carry on playing at the highest level.

“Records are my motivation,” he said on Wednesday, ahead of the match.

“I want to become the most-capped player in history. That would make me proud.

“But it doesn’t stop there, I still want to be called up very often.” REUTERS, AFP