Portugal were short priced favourites against DR Congo but struggled to break the African side down. Uzbekistan are the weakest team in this group, Bruno Fernandes to fire the Seleção to victory in Houston.
HTH
Portugal will be facing Uzbekistan for the first time.
Portugal Under Pressure
Portugal played two friendlies at home this month, starting with a 2-1 win against Chile thanks to goals from Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes.
Pedro Neto and Francisco Conceição were on target in Leiria, a 2-1 victory over Nigeria.
The Seleção started the World Cup with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo. It was looking good after João Neves opened the scoring in the 6th minute, but they couldn’t go on with the job despite ending with 75% possession.
Team News, Squad & Predicted Line Up
Rúben Dias missed out against Congo but should be back in central defence. Nuno Mendes might not be risked after picking up a knock.
Roberto Martinez will surely make some changes with Francisco Conceição in prime position to start in place of Bernardo Silva.
| Pos | Player | Age | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Diogo Costa | 26 | Porto |
| GK | José Sá | 33 | Wolverhampton |
| GK | Rui Silva | 32 | Sporting CP |
| DF | Rúben Dias | 29 | Manchester City |
| DF | João Cancelo | 32 | Barcelona |
| DF | Nélson Semedo | 32 | Fenerbahce |
| DF | Nuno Mendes | 24 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| DF | Diogo Dalot | 27 | Manchester United |
| DF | Gonçalo Inácio | 24 | Sporting CP |
| DF | Matheus Nunes | 27 | Manchester City |
| DF | Renato Veiga | 22 | Villarreal |
| DF | Tomás Araújo | 24 | Benfica |
| MF | Bernardo Silva | 31 | Manchester City |
| MF | Bruno Fernandes | 31 | Manchester United |
| MF | Rúben Neves | 29 | Al-Hilal |
| MF | Vitinha | 26 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | João Neves | 21 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| MF | Samú Costa | 25 | Mallorca |
| FW | Cristiano Ronaldo | 41 | Al-Nassr |
| FW | João Félix | 26 | Al-Nassr |
| FW | Rafael Leão | 27 | Milan |
| FW | Gonçalo Guedes | 29 | Real Sociedad |
| FW | Gonçalo Ramos | 25 | Paris Saint-Germain |
| FW | Pedro Neto | 26 | Chelsea |
| FW | Francisco Trincão | 26 | Sporting CP |
| FW | Francisco Conceição | 23 | Juventus |
Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, João Cancelo; Vitinha, João Neves; Francisco Conceição, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto; Cristiano Ronaldo
Uzbekistan World Cup Debutants
Uzbekistan competed in two friendlies this month, a 2-0 loss against Canada and a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands.
The White Wolves suffered a 3-1 defeat to Colombia in their first match at a World Cup. Abbosbek Fayzullaev equalised in the 60th minute but they were trailing again five minutes later and couldn’t find a way back.
Fabio Cannavaro’s side ended the contest with 39% possession and two shots on target, a trend that may continue against Portugal.
Team News, Squad & Predicted Line Up
Odiljon Hamrobekov is a chance to come into midfield for Akmal Mozgovoy. Abdulla Abdullaev’s position in central defence could be under threat.
Sherzod Nasrullaev and Oston Urunov were hooked at half-time against Colombia with Farrukh Sayfiev and Dostonbek Khamdamov set to start.
| Pos | Player | Age | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Utkir Yusupov | 35 | Navbahor Namangan |
| GK | Abduvohid Nematov | 25 | Nasaf |
| GK | Botirali Ergashev | 30 | Neftchi Fergana |
| DF | Abdukodir Khusanov | 22 | Manchester City |
| DF | Khojiakbar Alijonov | 29 | Pakhtakor |
| DF | Farrukh Sayfiev | 35 | Neftchi Fergana |
| DF | Rustam Ashurmatov | 29 | Esteghlal |
| DF | Sherzod Nasrullaev | 27 | Pakhtakor |
| DF | Umar Eshmurodov | 33 | Nasaf |
| DF | Abdulla Abdullaev | 28 | Dibba |
| DF | Bekhruz Karimov | 18 | Surkhon Termiz |
| DF | Avazbek Ulmasaliev | 26 | AGMK |
| DF | Jakhongir Urozov | 22 | Dinamo Samarqand |
| MF | Akmal Mozgovoy | 27 | Pakhtakor |
| MF | Otabek Shukurov | 30 | Baniyas |
| MF | Jamshid Iskanderov | 32 | Neftchi Fergana |
| MF | Odiljon Hamrobekov | 30 | Tractor |
| MF | Jaloliddin Masharipov | 32 | Esteghlal |
| MF | Oston Urunov | 25 | Persepolis |
| MF | Dostonbek Khamdamov | 29 | Pakhtakor |
| MF | Azizjon Ganiev | 28 | Al Bataeh |
| MF | Abbosbek Fayzullaev | 22 | Istanbul Basaksehir |
| MF | Sherzod Esanov | 23 | Bukhara |
| FW | Eldor Shomurodov | 30 | Istanbul Basaksehir |
| FW | Azizbek Amonov | 28 | Dinamo Samarqand |
| FW | Igor Sergeev | 33 | Persepolis |
Uzbekistan (3-4-3): Utkir Yusupov; Abdukodir Khusanov, Abdulla Abdullaev, Rustam Ashurmatov; Bekhruz Karimov, Odiljon Hamrobekov, Otabek Shukurov, Farrukh Sayfiev; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Eldor Shomurodov, Dostonbek Khamdamov