Match thread - World Cup 2026: Portugal vs Congo DR

I agree. It’s frustratingly bad.

 

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Portugal beats them 3-1.

 

We have good reason to panic. We never make adjustments. We've seen this constantly. Just listless and flat-footed and totally lacking the will to win.

Like Rooney's last years Ronaldo just gets hung out there.

Bruno and Bernardo are supposed to be veterans. They don't show it.

We just expect a clear chance to present itself eventually; Congo goes out and forces things.

 

welll… change the players, maybe we’ll see a better result. I expected Congo to play like this, portugal just need to gel as a team… and fast.

 

You mean Colombia beats us 3-1

 

The main issue in this game was no one was running in behind the defenders. Nobody was making any runs, so Congo was able to utilize a high block and clog up space in the midfield. There was no threat of anyone trying to run behind the lines. Even you go offside oh well, at least you're making COngo weary of you running in and they have to sit further back. It was a fatastic gameplan by Congo. There we so many times Portugal was passing the ball near the box and I was waiting for a little flick pass over the top and it just never happend, it was constant passing back when near the box. I am not opposed to Ronaldo on the bench at all but I don't care whos starting ahead of him, the result would have been exactly the same. There was no urgency, no flicks, no trying to run behind the defenders. It was very odd.

 

First time watching Portugal?

 

Bernardo is so hilariously useless for NT

 

Ok after reading Martinez and Ronaldo's comments after the game I actually concede, @Caldo Verde is right. World Cup is already lost.

Martinez said our attitude was extraordinary. Ronaldo said nothing was missing and we could've lost or won. Bruh, if you think that's a proper attitude for Portugal after playing ********ing Congo, you shouldn't be anywhere near the team. Dude knows he's past it and doesn't want to admit it.

******** this, I'm getting into cricket.

 

Technically I was right too. Told all you guys to stop wasting your time.

 

Anyone who didn’t think the nations cup or whatever the ******** it’s called was a major tournament was right. Everyone letting that insignificant little trophy cloud their judgement was hilarious.

 

Lmao bruh we’re obviously gonna watch the team play regardless. It’s just infuriating that this continuously happens and we keep having the same conversation every f*cking tournament.. The caliber of this squad should be deep throating teams like Congo, Uzbekistan etc.. Yet they lose or draw.. I said this year ago.. Morocco? Georgia? Slovenia? South Korea? Ireland? Who’s the next underdog to bully Portugal.. It’s inevitable if we even leave group stage..

 

I’m off the Ronaldo train now. Start Mister Potato head. I officially don’t give a flying f*cking anymore. This team has so much potential, seeing them draw to DR Congo and possibly get grouped or lose 1st place is pathetic..

 

im not panicking. we have the ability to beat anyone and sometimes a game like this can give a team like ours a reality check. Manager included. vitinha, neves and bernardo need to understand that they arnt playing for their club teams.... they need to dribble forward, pass forward and take players on.... Weve all seen this 100x we always struggle againts a team the bunkers down because we have zero creativity.

 

I like your outlook but you have to realize who our manager is and how autistic he is.

 

You think Colombia is gonna be worse than Congo?

 

Welcome back everyone!
I could see this coming. The entire was awful. I can't believe Ronaldo is still starting and playing the whole game in spite of putting out dismal performance after dismal performance.
Ironically, I think this was the hardest of the 3 games. I can see Portugal doing better against Columbia.

 

On another note, judging from the TV broadcast of the stadium stances so many "Portugal fans" were actually Mexicans wearing Portugal jersey.

 

I think so too

We struggle against teams that defend and give us the ball, we do well against 'bigger' teams.

 

How is anyone shocked by what happened? This is an exact carbon copy of how every single qualification game played out the past year and half against Ireland annd Hungary, and how Martinez sets out to play tactically.

It wasn’t going to magically change

 

This game was hot garbage. Yes they got a point... Which is more than what they deserved.

 

Martinez doesn't know how to use these midfielders. We have a bunch of passers and no runners. Aside from that, Portugal makes more passes into breaks behind the defensive line than any other national team.

It's just that every single time, the guy who breaks the line is left alone with no sideways passes as Ronaldo is jogging on the edge of the screen.

You can't have a functioning attack with a striker that doesn't run. People make jokes all the time about strikers going invisible, but an invisible striker is still keeping defenders busy and opening space. This 41 year old Ronaldo is on a whole different level.

 

You would think having an entire year or so to prepare and make adjustments would have worked

 

All stars for club but buffoons for Portugal