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Failing to secure a victory against Uzbekistan on Tuesday may not spell the end of Portugal's chances of advancing to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, but it would leave the European powerhouse in a very vulnerable position.
A disappointing 1–1 stalemate against DR Congo in their opening match was far from the start most had anticipated for Portugal, which now requires a strong response in their next two games.
41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo came under fire for his minimal influence during the first round, with many questioning whether the time has finally come for Portugal to move on from the fading brilliance of its greatest-ever player.
Such is Ronaldo's immense star power that the conversation surrounding the striker has dominated the days following the DR Congo draw, with several of Portugal's other key players — from Rúben Dias to João Neves — inadvertently sparking a social media firestorm with their remarks about their captain's role.
With Ronaldo expected to retain his spot in the squad against Uzbekistan, here's how Roberto Martínez's team could set up for the Group K encounter.
Portugal Predicted Lineup vs. Uzbekistan (4-2-3-1)
Pick Your Portugal Starting XI!
GK: Diogo Costa—Had little chance of stopping Yoanne Wissa's headed equalizer against DR Congo, one of just two shots on target he was called upon to deal with in Portugal's opening fixture.
RB: João Cancelo—Martínez does have alternatives at right back with Nélson Semedo and Matheus Nunes available in the squad, but is expected to hand Cancelo another opportunity to demonstrate his creative influence.
CB: Rúben Dias—The Manchester City defender should slot back into the backline after recovering from a knock, taking the place of Tomás Araujo, who was beaten in the air for DR Congo's goal.
CB: Renato Veiga—Veiga looks set to hold onto his starting position and appears to have established himself as one of the manager's go-to choices ahead of Gonçalo Inácio.
LB: Nuno Mendes—The Paris Saint-Germain defender was unusually subdued in the opener, but continues to be one of Portugal's genuinely world-class performers.
CM: João Neves—Both Neves and his girlfriend have spent the lead-up to this match dealing with backlash over comments made regarding Ronaldo. In his case, the remarks were genuine and harmless, while in his girlfriend's case, they were falsely attributed to her entirely.
CM: Vitinha—Another player who struggled to replicate his club-level form in the World Cup opener. The two-time Champions League winner will be eager to make a statement against Uzbekistan.
RW: Francisco Conceição—Brought directness and energy to Portugal's wide areas after coming on for Bernardo Silva. He could be handed a starting role to help his team break down what is likely to be another resolute defensive setup.
AM: Bruno Fernandes—Performed reasonably well against DR Congo without managing to create that crucial breakthrough. He remains a cornerstone of Martínez's attacking strategy.
LW: Pedro Neto—The Chelsea winger provided the assist in the last outing but contributed little beyond that. His starting spot is under pressure from AC Milan's Rafael Leão.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
ST: Cristiano Ronaldo—What more can be said about Ronaldo? Martínez kept his No.7 on the pitch for the full 90 minutes against DR Congo despite a largely ineffective showing, betting that a moment of brilliance would eventually arrive. It never did, but he may well make the same bet once more.
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Andy Headspeath is a Real Madrid correspondent for Sports Illustrated FC. Originally from the UK, he was drawn to Spain over a decade ago by the weather, culture and football, where he now lives with his wife, son and two untameable dogs. A player of remarkably modest ability with only one fully functioning knee, he brings more than a decade of experience across a broad range of editorial roles in sports media, spanning match reports to in-depth features and interviews. He specializes in football history and culture, as well as — naturally — La Liga.