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— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 20260 - Cristiano Ronaldo has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament games without scoring for Portugal (FIFA World Cup/EURO):
33 shots
11 on target
0 goalsDrought. pic.twitter.com/PYQIHPgCkM
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The first game of the group is so important and for Portugal to perform the way they have performed, you want to see more energy, I want to see more legs in the team. I want to see players run past Cristiano Ronaldo at times.
I think it was a poor performance from Portugal.
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The day after Lionel Messi showed why he is still in Argentina’s team, Portugal were perhaps given a reminder of why Cristiano Ronaldo should not be in theirs.
It was a bright enough start from Portugal, taking the lead through Joao Neves’s header, but too much of their game became mired in slow possession and sterile domination.
Ronaldo tried to hold his position between the centre-backs, but Mbemba and Tuanzebe subdued him.
This is not quite Spain 0 Cape Verde 0 but it was a tremendous team performance from DR Congo.
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Semedo wins Portugal a corner, off Kayembe. Surely the last chance, and Ronaldo is loitering in the box. He makes a run across the near post but the ball goes over his head and Mpasi does ever so well to claim.
It is an errant kick from the goalkeeper though, straight to Araujo. One last chance for Portugal, but Fernandes drags a pass behind all of his team mates.
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DR Congo’s players are annoyed with Aruajo, who blocks off Wissa with a very cynical body-check. Yellow card for the Portugal defender. DR Congo have carried a threat throughout this half, and the minutes are now ticking by. They have a free-kick in the Portugal half.
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Bruno Fernandes tries to take matters into his own hands (or feet), but he drags a left-footed shot from distance wide of the near post.
Just five added minutes for Portugal to spare themslves a very underwhelming result.
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Good hands from the DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi, keeping hold of a driven Cancelo strike across goal. Then Wissa leads the charge again, and is dragged down by Semedo at the expense of a yellow card. This has been an accomplished team performance from DR Congo after a passive opening 20 minutes.
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That was Wan-Bissaka’s last action, he has been replaced in a double DR Congo change. Kalulu replaces the West Ham defender. Banza replaces Bakambu up front.
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Martinez rolling the dice: Vitinha off, and his PSG team-mate Ramos is on. So Portugal will finish the game with two centre-forwards, Ronaldo included. Excellent defending from Wan-Bissaka near the touchline, times those sliding challenges so well. The old adage “stay on your feet” does not really apply to him.
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Another fluent DR Congo move, attacking from right to left with Portugal looking a little ragged, but Kayembe’s first time cross on his left foot was skewed straight into the gloves of Costa. There were numbers forward for DR Congo too, just needed to take a touch. Masuaku then defends well against Conceicao.
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Conceicao thought he had won Portugal a free-kick in a dangerous area after being released by Fernandes, but the flag is up for offside. Think that was premature from the linesman, the winger looked on.
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DR Congo waste a fantastic counter-attacking chance, though they worked it really well to tee up an unmarked Bakambu for a shot from just outside the area. Took it first time, but he standing foot was not set, and he scooped the ball over leaning back. Portugal living dangerously.
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Portugal starting to crank up the pressure now, but Bakambu was almost clean through on the break. Araujo with a key interceptions. Martinez made a double change in the drinks break: Leao and Semedo on for Neto and Cancelo.
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Conceicao and Ronaldo combine again, very similar to the previous chance, and this time Ronaldo was closer to finding the corner from the cutback, the ball flashed across the near post.
Aston Villa’s long-haired set-piece coach Austin MacPhee is on Martinez’s staff and was involved in the drinks break conflab.
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Time for the second drinks break. Robert Martinez has his miniature magnetic tactics board out. Ronaldo stoop impassively as his manager barks instructions.
A good time to catch up with this from earlier on: DR Congo fans in a Lisbon fanpark celebrating their goal.
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Wissa and Veiga involved in a tangle, which merely slows the game down as the referee comes over to have a word with them. Portugal need more flow and rhythm in the game.
Half a chance! Lovely ball fired into Conceicao in the box, but his pull-back was behind Ronaldo and he could only stab a shot wide of the near post. I think he needed a shout from Fernandes who was in a better position. The shout may have gone unheeded, regardless.
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Ronaldo has barely touched the ball in the second half, he continues to lurk between the DR Congo centre-backs, but Portugal have not found him with a cross as yet. Mbemba heads away well from a Conceicao delivery. Then the goalkeeper Mpasi claims another cross aimed towards Ronaldo.
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DR Congo win two headers in the Portugal area from a long throw, but the second could not be directed towards goal and drifted wide. Portugal a little vulnerable from set-pieces without Ruben Dias. A Veiga long pass towards Neto runs through to the goalkeeper. DR Congo looking relatively comfortable. For now.
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Portugal have the ball back after a short stoppage because Nuno Mendes took a knock to the ankle. They now have a corner, won by half-time sub Conceicao, who has been quiet generally.
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Danger again in Portugal’s penalty area. Kayembe found space but his first touch let him down, before Bakambu shakes off Fernandes and strikes the near post with a shot from a tight angle. The referee had given a foul though, but it was soft. DR Congo have just made a change, the Sunderland midfielder Sadiki has been introduced.
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That would have been a fabulous Portugal goal, but the flag goes up for offside (correctly). Fernandes floated an inswinging cross towards Neves, who chested the ball down first time, and Cancelo buried an overhead kick from six yards out. But the right-back just strayed offside. DR Congo then win a corner but Veiga heads clear.
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Portugal starting to apply more pressure on the DR Congo defence, but Tuanzebe defends his six-yard box manfully. Nuno Mendes with a well-timed overlap, but the former Manchester United man cleared his low cross.
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Bakambu with some effective centre-forward play, and a shot across Costa which draws a sharp save. The flag goes up for offside in any case, but Portugal know they are in a game.
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Confident start to the second half from DR Congo, enjoying a sustained period of possession. As his been the case at the tournament, the atmosphere feels especially flat after half time as fans make their way back to their seats well refreshed.
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Their players are on the pitch, waiting for DR Congo.
Martinez is making a half-time change: Francisco Conceicao is replacing Bernardo Silva, so more of a true winger. Bernardo was also on a yellow card.
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DR Congo deserved their equaliser and what a moment for Yoane Wissa. He has had such a miserable season at Newcastle but all that frustration has been unleashed at the World Cup. It’s a fantastic header, too.
Portugal had started to look increasingly complacent, playing like a team that felt they were too good to be worried by their opponents. The fact DR Congo have had more shots on goal tells its own story.
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Portugal have had more than 80 per cent possession, but the teams are level after 45 minutes. A classic case of a game being too comfortable, it looked like this would be a warm-up exercise for Portugal after Joao Neves early goal. DR Congo stuck to their task, and managed the game well after the drinks break. Wissa’s goal a reminder of the importance of set-pieces.
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There is a turn up for the books. From a second corner in quick succession, DR Congo work a short one, and Wissa is free as a bird at the back post to plant home a back-post header, from an inswinging cross from the right. Jubilation on the DR Congo bench and among their fans.
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 17, 2026Yoane Wissa scores DR Congo's first-ever World Cup goal! 🇨🇩⚽
It makes it 1-1 against Portugal in a historic moment for the nation. pic.twitter.com/Q7B6FcT3tn
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DR Congo have a corner after their best move of the match, Masuaku firing a pass between the lines for Bakambu. The left-back runs forward and receives the return pass, and his pull-back finds Moutoussamy just outside the area. Sliced the shot, but a deflection took it behind. Portugal defend. Mbemba then stays down after twisting his ankle, before getting back to his feet.
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There are four minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half.
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Given what happened with Kylian Mbappe for France last night it would be foolish to write him off based on the first half but Cristiano Ronaldo really has not done much so far in this match.
Dare I say it, he looks every one of his 41 years at the moment. If he gets a chance you would still back him to take it but in terms of his contribution to Portugal’s overall game, he does not offer much at all. They are trying to get into position to deliver crosses for him to attack, but Congo are playing with three centre backs for a reason.
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The enforced hydration breaks do alter the flow of matches, and in this case the pause has not helped Portugal. DR Congo have done pretty well to keep the score at one, and the atmosphere has fallen flat. Plenty of Portugal possession, but their opponents look more set defensively. Vitinha then miscontrolled the ball in midfield, and DR Congo were almost straight at the Portugal defence.
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Bruno Fernandes with a shot from distance which is blocked, before Mbemba wins a well-timed challenge. There was a chance for DR Congo to spring forward but the move slowed down after they crossed the halfway line.
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Wissa with some well-timed closing down on Portugal goalkeeper Costa, who was almost caught out, shovelling the ball forwards. DR Congo they keep the ball for a longer sequence, but it is diligent defending from Joao Neves to win a duel and then a throw.
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Wissa with a foul on Portugal centre-back Araujo, and he urges his team-mates to squeeze up the pitch behind him. Chancel Mbemba is then booked for catching Neto in an aerial challenge, but there was no serious arm swing from the DR Congo defender. Neto, ever the charmer, has stitched him up there, rolling around holding his throat.
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We are under way again after the drinks break, but the pattern of the game remains the same. Cancelo with a teasing ball across the penalty area which was a little too far in front of Ronaldo. In fairness to Portugal’s captain, he has been quite selfless with his performance, generally staying out of the way.
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The roof is closed and the temperature is a comfortable 20C, but we are having a drinks break.
Diogo Jota’s parents are in the stands today.
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 17, 2026An emotional moment ❤️
The parents of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva in attendance as Joao Neves scores Portugal's first of the tournament pic.twitter.com/sTSIRMdb6f
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Portugal keeping the ball with ease inside the DR Congo half. The African side playing with a flat back five is making it difficult for them to apply any pressure on Portugal’s midfield, and with an early lead established they are happy to stroke the ball around.
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DR Congo Sebastian Desabre will be concerned by how threatening Portugal look from crosses, given his team are playing with three centre-backs.
Then Fernandes picks out the run of Nuno Mendes with a fantastic pass over the top, but the ball just ran away from the left-back at the crucial moment and DR Congo goalkeeper Mpasi palmed clear.
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Portugal cleared that corner, before DR Congo did well to snuff out a counter-attack. We are back into another spell of controlled Portugal possession. Neves and Vitinha responsible for all of the build up, Fernandes high playing close to Ronaldo.
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Some boos around the stadium because Bernardo Silva has been shown a yellow card. Was not a heavy challenge by any means, but his follow through caught Watford midfielder Kayembe on the ankle. Bakambu then skips through a couple of challenges, and his shot deflects behind from a corner.
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DR Congo throw a couple of punches back: Wan-Bissaka with a dangerous cross into the box, headed clear Araujo, before Wissa shoots not far wide of the post from the outside of the box with his left foot.
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If there was any tension in the Portugal ranks as they kick off their World Cup campaign, that goal should ease it. Martinez’s team were very comfortable in the game regardless, but they really should take a grip of things from here.
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The PSG midfielder is far from the tallest player, but he makes a habit of headed goals after well-timed runs forward. Neto’s cross from the left is a good one, but it is a superb glancing header from Neves into the far corner. As the ball flashed in, you wondered if it was Ronaldo, which says everything about the quality of the goal. DR Congo’s gameplan up in smoke.
João Neves is the third youngest Portuguese scorer at the World Cup (21 years, 263 days), behind Cristiano Ronaldo in 2006 (21 years, 132 days) and Gonçalo Ramos in 2022 (21 years, 169 days). pic.twitter.com/47gVZEu01w
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 17, 2026
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Nuno Mendes tries to feed Pedro Neto, but Wan-Bissaka goes to ground in trademark style to stop him in his tracks. DR Congo then enjoy their first spell of possession, but it does not last long, caught on the ball in their own half. There is a roar from the crowd whenever Ronaldo touches the ball.
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The early signs are that Cancelo is going to push high and wide to allow Bernardo Silva to narrow, with Mendes staying back to let Neto hold his width on the left flank. Portugal seeing all of the ball in the early exchanges, DR Congo in their defensive shape behind the ball. Vitinh has already played half a dozen passes.
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Portugal get the game started, and they decide to keep the ball rather than kicking long for territory.
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Time for the anthems. It comes as no surprise to learn that Portugal’s fans are dominating all four corners of the stadium.
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While all the focus will, understandably, be on Cristiano Ronaldo as he makes the first appearance at his sixth World Cup, I’m personally intrigued to see how Yoane Wissa goes for DR Congo.
As regular readers will know, I spend an awful lot of time watching Newcastle United and it is fair to say the summer signing of Brentford endured rather than enjoyed his first season in the North East.
Injured playing for his country at the start of September, Wissa missed four months of the campaign with a complicated knee problem and never really looked fit and sharp again.
At the cost of £55m, the 29-year-old scored just one Premier League goal and had slipped to fourth choice centre forward at one stage.
However, there were a few flashes from the striker towards the end of the season and Newcastle’s coaching staff believe he could be a completely different player with a proper full season behind him.
Playing in the World Cup is a huge achievement for Wissa and the extra games this summer are unlikely to do him any harm from his club’s perspective given the amount of football he missed last season.
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Wissa and Bakumba will plays as two strikers. I always think the risk of defending in a 5-3-2 is the opposition full-backs having the run of the game because the wing-backs are pinned by the wingers. Nuno Mendes and Cancelo can hurt you when left unopposed. Lots of running required from the midfield three to shuffle across to whichever side the ball is on.
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The stadium has a roof so the game should finish on time, but some of the fans could be in for a wet journey home.
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All I can show is a very consistent campaign. We won the Uefa Nations League - the most challenging edition so far.
We played 10 games, went through the knockout stages, beat Germany in Germany, and then won the final against Spain.
It is a significant achievement. The team is in excellent condition. The players have confidence, but they also understand that the 2026 World Cup is really different from other tournaments. We have to prove ourselves once again.
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— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 202641 - Aged 41 years and 132 days, 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo is the oldest outfield player to start a match in FIFA World Cup history.
Timeless. pic.twitter.com/HpjlY4PTs4
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No Ruben Dias for Portugal, fit enough for the bench. Cancelo is preferred to Semedo, Dalot or Nunes at right-back Martinez could have opted for Leao and two true wingers to stretch the game, but it looks like Bernardo Silva will drift in off the right.
Portugal starting XI: Costa, Joao Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Vitinha, Silva, Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Ronaldo
Subs: Jose Sa, Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Dias, Dalot, Nunes Matheus Luiz, Goncalo Ramos, Joao Felix, Inacio, Trincao, Leao, Goncalo Guedes, Ruben Neves, Samu, Francisco Conceicao
DR Congo: M’Pasi-Nzau, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapuadi, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Edo Kayembe, Bakambu, Wissa
Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Batubinsika, Mbuku, Cipenga, Bongonda, Kakuta, Joris Kayembe, Elia, Sadiki, Tshibola, Pickel, Mayele, Banza, Kalulu
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We are approaching the juncture when all 48 teams will have played one game at this World Cup, so there can be no excuses for any wayward selections when playing our predictor tool.
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Though it feels like a World Cup debut, DR Congo played at the 1974 World Cup under the flag of Zaire when they were eliminated at the group stage.
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After a day when Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi announced their arrival at the 2026 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo will be keen to respond in kind.
Whether that kind of personal motivation will work to Portugal’s benefit is a thornier question, but Roberto Martinez’s well-fancied team begin their campaign against Democratic Republic of Congo in Houston, Texas.
Confidence in Portugal’s chances stems from the quality of their midfield, built around Joao Neves and Vintinha, the Paris St-Germain pair who are back-to-back Champions League winners. In front of them is a lightly raced Footballer of the Year in Bruno Fernandes, while new Real Madrid player Bernardo Silva will be his usual scheming self, stitching it all together.
Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos are further representation for PSG, but all eyes will be on how Martinez manages the 41-year-old Ronaldo who is playing in his sixth World Cup.
The former Real Madrid forward scored five goals in qualifying and played his part in Portugal’s Nations League success last year. Clearly, he has something to offer, but in a long tournament and with other good options to choose from, Martinez will surely need to manage his minutes.
The Portugal manager said: “He’s essential to the team, he’s the striker, the killer, he can open up space for other players and he’s got excellent numbers.”
DR Congo’s experience and quality across their back four is reflected in a strong defensive record, conceding just two goals at the Africa Cup of Nations when they lost 1-0 to Algeria in the last 16. From a solid base, they will look to spring forward quickly and exploit space behind opposition defences.
Yoane Wissa will need to be Congo’s main man in front of goal. Captain Chancel Mbemba provides another Newcastle connection, while Axel Tuanzebe and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will also feature in defence.
Full team news on the way shortly.
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