Match thread - World Cup 2026: Portugal vs Congo DR

Produngal will get grouped at this stage. I think another draw against mighty Uzbekistan like I said draw Vs warrior Congo and then smashed by the Coke boys from Bogota

 

That’s a pathetically hilarious stat.. Holy f*ck even San Marino could’ve done better

 

Portugal's updated record with Roberto Martinez in major tournaments:

2-1-3, 6 goals scored.

Ronaldo has also not scored a goal from open play in his last 13 major tournament games.

 

Very interesting podcast interview with Nuno Mendes and Ramos.



Recorded last Thursday, the first day of the World Cup. About 1 hour and 18 minutes in they remark how weird it is that they're still in Portugal while the tournament is starting. Ramos even says "How is it possible?" and says he just had dinner with his family and it feels like he wasn't even called up for the World Cup. Even the players felt it was off.

Whole preparation was bizarre. Putting them then in a 5 star luxury resort on the beach. These guys have been in vacation mode. Ramos even says "Tipo de ferias"!!! They had to be in the U.S. early in World Cup mode like a straight up training camp, with sole focus on the tournament and nothing else. Can't believe they ********ed this whole thing up so bad.

 

And once again, for whatever reason one of Martinez's go-to subs is Nelson Semedo.

 

Have you heard Portugal's official for the 2026 WC?

 

Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia and won the world cup this does not tell us that the hope that this team could win was false. At the same time Portugal let me down because Vitinha Joa Neves Mendes are so special and we are still seeing the 2018-2024 era of Bruno Bernardo old Ronaldo dominating the game.

You need two wingers that will run in behind and a CF that will press and offer hold up play so Vitinha Neves can work their magic. Again a draw is not the issue. Portugal have so much quality on the ball and will do well but we can already see the same patterns repeat where they will struggle to score and create if Martinez continues with these kinds of tactics/unbalanced 11.

 

Look at this lol

Bruno was one of the main culprits, but everybody did this. Just turn back and begin passing sideways again.

Good shit Bruno let’s pass back to the GK…

CR7 pulls 4 defenders just for Bruno to go backwards… Stop letting the media trick you… Ronaldo is old. Maybe Ronaldo shouldn’t start!!! but the “best midfield in the world” played like shit https://t.co/IIqRdPTF4Y

— aa9skillz (@aa9skillz) June 17, 2026

 

Let's be honest, EVERYBODY played and coached like ass. Maybe for the exception of a few. This includes the front office of the F.P.F.

 

I think they played exactly as Martinez intended which is the worry. It's the same thing we saw at the Euros. I thought they looked very good in the first half they just had no interest in putting through the dagger and were instructed to bait Congo into pressing them which has logic.

But once Congo equalized they were able to go into a low block and that 11 simply has very little cutting edge and the worst part is when you play Bernardo Bruno Ronaldo together it forces Neves/Vitinha to just be call cyclers.

The solution I think is to use Guedes Concecaio Trincao Neto wide and only give Ronaldo 55 minutes and then throw on Ramos to win a place on merit. Bernardo can come on as a sub for Bruno but you don't want him at RW/RAM.

The reality is Ronaldo is not a CF if it was me I would say ok you can compete with Neto/Leao for a spot at LWF run at full speed and if you legs and knees blow up then that's your level.

 

With the quality in mid, you'd expect more to go through the center. Portugal played mostly through the wings. Should have been spaces to exploit with quick combinations between Bruno, Neves, Vitinha, Conceicao, Neto, Silva.

 

Completely neutering Vitinha and Neves is honestly quite the feat from Martinez.

 

Maybe

You know what? Even Shitaly would’ve done better than Produngal against Doctor Congo..

 

Pradungal will draw vs Uzeksotahn and get blasted by the coke boys now

 

Will it be more beneficial for Produgnal to finish 3rd in group? In terms of path? That’s IF we don’t finish last…

 

Brown oh best midfielder in world for United but turns into dung beetle for Produgal

 

What is it that turns Portuguese players into Sunday beer league guys when they put on Portugal shirt but they win prem and champions league for their clubs??? Hmmm???

 

“Num jogo como hoje, em que estava difícil chegar à área, é importante usar a qualidade do Cristiano. Não faz sentido tirar o melhor goleador da história do futebol num jogo em que precisamos de golos. A experiência dele na área é importante, a maneira como arrasta os defesas… Todos os jogadores têm o seu papel no campo e, quando pensamos em golos, precisamos de ter o Cristiano em campo”.


This guy has one job and it’s not to win games. And people still defend him when he explicitly says it’s not to win games. Cucks.

 

Prodiguale can't beat Doctor Congo LOL get ready for OoooozBekistan the mighty.. Coke boys will then spank the highest market value NT in the world.. 3-1.. Produnguale finishes 3rd in group.

 

Starting to believe Ooga Booga Martinez is sabotaging Produngal so we couldn't possibly face them in QF.. That is now a dream as we couldn't beat Doctor Congo..

 

this is the problem we see what they do for PSG but if you have Bruno Bernardo Ronaldo Neto in a hodgepodge 4 in front of them all they can do is cycle the ball. He is using them the way Deschamps uses Tchoumani and Rabiot. Might aswell be Ruben Neves and Paulhina. He is not letting the team evolve from the 2018-2024 team to this new generation.

 

There is zero excuse when you have Bruno, J Neves, Vitinha, R Neves, Bruno in your midfield..

 

Any national team would literally kill to have one of these guys.. This idiot has 6 of them in one NT midfield yet we can't beat Georgia, Slovenia, South Korea, Morocco, Ireland, Hungary, Congo.. Starting to think these bozos are only stars for their club.. National team they turn into goofballs that forget how to walk in a straight line.. CLOWN SHOWWWWWW