World Cup 2026: Portugal held by DR Congo in their tournament opener
In their opening game of the World Cup on Wednesday at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo. After a bright start from Paris star Joao Neves, Roberto Martinez’s side saw their opponents level through Yoane Wissa before the break. In the opener to Cristiano Ronaldo’s sixth World Cup, Portugal served up a self-parody for the world to see. After going ahead as early as the 6th minute through a Joao Neves header, set up by Pedro Neto, the Selecao bossed possession with 75% of the ball, the sort of control that should have shut the door on the opposition.
But instead of suffocating a side without the ball, Roberto Martinez’s team slowly drifted off, almost drunk on control that was barely being tested. They forgot to go forward, and they offered next to nothing going the other way. They were punished right at the end of the first half, in a move that will sound horribly familiar: from the second phase of back-to-back corners, Portugal left the far post exposed, Diogo Costa stayed rooted on his line, and Yoan Wissa made it level in the 45e + 5.
The half-time switch of Bernardo Silva for Francisco Conceicao brought some bite, and the diminutive winger finally gave Cristiano Ronaldo his first two chances of the match with cut-backs from the byline (68e, 74e).
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Bakambu denied by the post as Portugal run out of ideas
Portugal managed a few sharp passages and Joao Cancelo had a superb goal ruled out for offside (54e), but it could have been a lot worse for them in Houston on Wednesday. Cedric Bakambu hit the post (57e) and then failed to hit the target after a counter attack with the extra man (77e).
Roberto Martinez’s second-half changes, including the decision to take off Vitinha for Goncalo Ramos, left the midfield short without adding any real punch up front, and Rafael Leao’s arrival was a disaster. Portugal handed Sebastien Desabre’s side a deserved draw, and at least they looked like a team with a plan.
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