Portugal Look to Get Back on Track Against Uzbekistan in Houston
(image via Omar Duran)
Match number in four Houston kicks off today as Portugal takes on Uzbekistan in Group K action. Portugal is coming off a disappointing 1-1 draw in their opening match against DR Congo and will be looking to rebound and get their tournament on the right track. Uzebkistan lost 3-1 to Colombia in their opener, their first ever World Cup match.
When: Tuesday, June 23 | 12:00 PM CT kickoff
Where: Houston Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV/Stream: Fox, Telemundo
Where’s Ronaldo?
All the talk after Portugal’s 1-1 draw against DR Congo was around Cristiano Ronaldo. Is Portugal providing enough for him? Should he even be starting? Is he hindering their team? Can he still score enough to take Portugal far? The 41-year-old has now gone 10 consecutive major tournament games without a goal, the longest drought in his career at the international level. In 90 minutes against DR Congo, Ronaldo had just 25 touches. With PSG striker Goncalo Ramos waiting in the wings, how long does Portugal boss Roberto Martinez stick with CR7 in the starting lineup? If he can’t find the back of the net today against an Uzbekistan team in their first ever World Cup, the questions will only get louder.
Portugal Misfiring
Are Portugal misfiring or just not firing at all. Against DR Congo, the Portuguese became the first team since 1966 to be outshot in a World Cup match despite having more that 70% possession. They had 75% and managed just one shot on target, Joao Neves’ goal in the sixth minute. Ronaldo is getting all the criticism but, to be fair, Portugal need more from their whole attacking unit, including Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto, and Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese were pegged by some as a team that could win this World Cup but that draw in the opening match has cast doubt. Today’s match, against an Uzbekistan team ranked 45 places below them in the FIFA world rankings, is a chance to get the train back on the tracks.
Hungry Like the Wolves
The White Wolves, as Uzbekistan are known, became the first team from Central Asia ever to play in a World Cup match when they lost 3-1 to Colombia on Wednesday. Abbosbek Fazyullaev scored his country’s first ever goal in the tournament to equalize in the second half but Uzbekistan were unable to hold on for a draw. Now they come into this second match with Portugal looking to earn their first points at a World Cup. Led by former Ball d’Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan know they face a tough uphill battle in this match, and to qualify out of the group. If they are to get anything from today’s game, look for their captain and talisman Eldor Shomurodov to be heavily involved.
