Portugal seeks redemption against Uzbekistan as Ronaldo’s World Cup legacy comes under fire
Portugal’s 41-year-old captain faces his loudest critics yet after a 1-1 draw with debutants Congo DR, with the second group match in Houston offering a chance to silence the noise.
The fallout from the Congo draw
Portugal’s World Cup campaign opened with a surprise 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a team that had never before earned a point at the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo touched the ball only 25 times in 90 minutes, the fewest of any Portuguese outfielder who played the full match, and failed to threaten the opposition goal. Head coach Roberto Martínez declined to confirm whether Ronaldo would start against Uzbekistan, saying he would not discuss line-up decisions publicly before speaking to his players, while insisting the squad had conducted an honest self-assessment.
He reacts like a captain. He is an example, reacting with a lot of experience. We are talking about someone who has represented the national team for 21 seasons.
Ronaldo’s legacy under scrutiny
In Portugal the debate over Ronaldo’s place has become inescapable, with supporters and pundits calling for him to step aside. DR Congo midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau summed up the shift in perception after the opener.
We know that he isn’t the same as before. He is a little bit older now. But still, he is one of the greatest to play the game. We have much respect for him.
Commentators argue that the team brims with talent (Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves) and that persisting with Ronaldo stifles its evolution. The Irish Times’ Portuguese journalist wrote that “it is hard to understand why Martínez continues to start Ronaldo” and that the legend’s legacy is “beginning to suffer.”
Unity and response inside the camp
Players have rallied around their captain. Juventus winger Francisco Conceição, 23, stressed that the squad draws motivation from Ronaldo’s hunger.
If he’s achieved so much and continues with such hunger, ours has to be even greater. He’s another one who’s here to help; we need everyone for the team to function.
Defender Rúben Dias dismissed reports of dressing-room division as “noise” and insisted the group had isolated itself from viral fake news, including fabricated messages attributed to teammates and family members. Sources from the Portuguese camp told ABC that Ronaldo is displaying “the most collective mentality of his career” and that the team is “crazy to play and silence mouths.”
What is at stake against Uzbekistan
- Portugal 1-1 DR Congo (opening match)
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan (second group game, Houston)
- Portugal vs Colombia (final group match)
Around the groups
Harry Kane scored twice in England’s 4-2 opening win over Croatia, moving level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals. One more would place him alongside Jürgen Klinsmann and Sándor Kocsis. England faces Ghana, who top Group L with England after a late 1-0 win over Panama. Panama and Croatia meet in Toronto in a match neither can afford to lose.
