Portugal finished second in Group K after drawing with DR Congo and Colombia, while recording an emphatic 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. Although they did not top the group, Martinez believed the difficult opening phase had prepared his players well for the knockout rounds.
"Tomorrow we will begin the second World Cup," Martinez told reporters. "The preparation was very important." He added that Portugal's three group matches had provided the team with the experience needed ahead of the win-or-go-home stage of the tournament.
The Portugal manager expected a difficult contest against Croatia, a nation that reached the 2018 World Cup final and finished third four years later.
"Croatia is a team we know very well," Martinez said. "They also know our strengths and our talent, so it will be a competitive match."
Martinez also dismissed criticism over his decision to play Cristiano Ronaldo for the full 90 minutes against Colombia while striker Goncalo Ramos remained on the sidelines. The Portugal coach insisted every player understood their role within the squad.
"What's important is that all the players are ready to play for the team, whether in the starting lineup or on the bench," he said.
Much of the attention will focus on veteran captains Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Luka Modric, 40, who could be facing each other at the World Cup for the final time. Martinez praised both players for their lasting influence on football.
"People talk about age, but age is just a number," he said. "What matters is what they do and the example they set in the locker room."
The match will also carry deep emotional significance for Portugal as it comes one day before the anniversary of forward Diogo Jota's death in a car accident.
Midfielder Vitinha admitted the squad would be driven by the desire to honour their former teammate by reaching the last 16.
"We have all the motivation to win tomorrow - for our families, for Diogo Jota, for the whole country, for the whole of Portugal," Vitinha said. "This is why we're going to do everything we can, really our best, to win against Croatia."
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