Portugal coach Roberto Martínez was evasive when asked whether superstar Cristiano Ronaldo would be in the starting line-up for the second World Cup group stage match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
"I can't comment on the starting line-up yet because I haven't told my players," Martínez said in a news conference on Monday.
"I prefer not to speak publicly about anything that hasn't been discussed with my players yet."
Martínez and his team were heavily criticized following their lacklustre 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in their tournament opener.
Ronaldo, in particular, came under fire after he seemed out of place up front on the Portuguese national team.
Martínez stressed, however, that criticism is part of the job and the process.
"We have three games in the group stage, so nothing changes. We've identified where we made mistakes, what we weren't able to achieve, and what we need to change."
No team has ever gone into its opening match "fully prepared and perfect," he added.
"We had to take a critical look at ourselves and conduct an honest self-assessment, and that's what we did."
Portugal are third in Group K with one point. Colombia top the standings ahead of their next opponents DR Congo.
