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Portugal played to a surprising 1-1 tie with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday in the World Cup at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Amid the draw for the Portuguese against a country that hadn’t been to the World Cup in 52 years, Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez found positives for his team. Portugal will have a six-day wait to get back on the field in Group K play again on June 23 against Uzbekistan.
“We do have to improve. We have to be very self-critical,” Martínez told reporters afterward. “Our responsibility here, I think is to assess this match, be self-critical and that’s the bottom line … the World Cup is like that. We continue our work. I noticed that the attitude of the players was extraordinary first and foremost, and I do believe in what we can do.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 17: Roberto Martinez Manager / Head Coach of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and Congo DR at Houston Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Houston, United States. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Martínez and his staff have plenty to examine after star Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t produce any accurate shot or create chances. It doesn’t stop with Ronaldo, however.
Portugal controlled possession in this game and had a home crowd in Houston behind them. The Portuguese let the opportunity slip away as the DR Congo players were essentially making their World Cup debut.
DR Congo, formerly Zaire, had never scored a goal in a World Cup before, and Portugal now has the distinction of giving up the first. While the tie isn’t quite on par with Spain’s 0-0 tie against Cape Verde on Monday, it’s an upset nonetheless for the Portuguese.
“They were intense, confident. They played like a big final in a big tournament and that shows incredible personality,” Martínez acknowledged. “We knew that Congo could do that. It wasn’t a surprise.”
Portugal had the early momentum with João Neves scoring six minutes into the match, but Portugal never capitalized after that. It’s the reality that Martínez and company will need to address before June 23.
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Amid the draw for the Portuguese against a country that hadn’t been to the World Cup in 52 years, Portugal head coach Roberto Martínez found positives for his team. Portugal will have a six-day wait to get back on the field in Group K play again on June 23 against Uzbekistan.
“We do have to improve. We have to be very self-critical,” Martínez told reporters afterward. “Our responsibility here, I think is to assess this match, be self-critical and that’s the bottom line … the World Cup is like that. We continue our work. I noticed that the attitude of the players was extraordinary first and foremost, and I do believe in what we can do.”
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 17: Roberto Martinez Manager / Head Coach of Portugal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group K match between Portugal and Congo DR at Houston Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Houston, United States. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Martínez and his staff have plenty to examine after star Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t produce any accurate shot or create chances. It doesn’t stop with Ronaldo, however.
Portugal controlled possession in this game and had a home crowd in Houston behind them. The Portuguese let the opportunity slip away as the DR Congo players were essentially making their World Cup debut.
DR Congo, formerly Zaire, had never scored a goal in a World Cup before, and Portugal now has the distinction of giving up the first. While the tie isn’t quite on par with Spain’s 0-0 tie against Cape Verde on Monday, it’s an upset nonetheless for the Portuguese.
“They were intense, confident. They played like a big final in a big tournament and that shows incredible personality,” Martínez acknowledged. “We knew that Congo could do that. It wasn’t a surprise.”
Portugal had the early momentum with João Neves scoring six minutes into the match, but Portugal never capitalized after that. It’s the reality that Martínez and company will need to address before June 23.
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