Portugal and the Democratic Republic of Congo met on Wednesday night at NRG Stadium in Houston in the first match of World Cup Group H. Portugal came in as the clear favorite, but Congo brought several players from top European leagues and hoped to spring an upset. The match had not yet started when the lineups were published.
Cristiano Ronaldo was named to start up front for Roberto Martinez. At 41, he is playing in his sixth World Cup and his 23rd World Cup match, looking to join the recent scoring exploits of Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and especially Lionel Messi. Portugal’s strength is described as exceptional, with the question being whether it will be enough.
For Congo, the game marked a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire. Sebastien Desabre selected Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu in attack, while the defense included Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Chancel Mbemba. It is also a sixth World Cup for Congo, a historic one.
The referee was Abdulrahman Al-Jassim of Qatar. Portugal lined up in a 4-3-3 with Diogo Costa, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Araujo, R. Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo and Pedro Neto. Congo used a 5-3-2 with Lionel Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Tuanzebe, C. Kpoaudi, Mbemba, A. Masuaku, S. Moutoussami, A. Kaimba, A. Mokau, Wissa and Bakambu. In Group H, Uzbekistan and Portugal were level on zero points along with Colombia and Congo, with upcoming fixtures set for June 18, 23, 24 and 28 in Mexico City, Houston, Guadalajara, Miami and Atlanta.
