Portugal enters the field this Tuesday (23) against Uzbekistan needing a victory to recover from their irregular debut in the World Cup. The clash, valid for the second round of Group K, takes place at 2pm (Brasília time) at NRG Stadium, in Houston, in the United States.
After the 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the opening, João Neves’ goal canceled out by Yoane Wissa’s equalizer, the Portuguese team is under pressure. The team occupies third place in the group, with one point, behind Colombia (3 points) and tied with Congo. A victory puts Portugal in the provisional lead before the duel against the Colombians.
Uzbekistan, in turn, arrives with zero points after a 3-1 defeat to Colombia. The Asian team, which is competing in its first World Cup, scored the historic goal with Abbosbek Fayzullaev, but needs points to keep its chance of advancement alive. Fabio Cannavaro, Italian coach, assembled a competitive and defensively organized team.
Ronaldo in search of redemption and return of Rúben Dias
Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41 years old, has yet to find the net in the competition and had no shots in his debut game. The captain, however, remains a reference in the attack and should be a starter. Roberto Martínez is studying adjustments, with the likely return of Rúben Dias to the defense, recovered from injury, and a greater presence of players like Francisco Conceição and Pedro Neto in the offensive sector to create more chances.
Probable lineup for Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; João Cancelo, Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, João Neves; Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva (or João Félix), Pedro Neto (or Rafael Leão); Cristiano Ronaldo. Coach: Roberto Martínez.
Uzbekistan bets on solid defense and counterattacks
Uzbekistan should repeat the reactive stance seen against Colombia, exploring quick transitions with players like Eldor Shomurodov and Abbosbek Fayzullaev. Injuries worry the Asian side, with doubts in the defense and midfield.
Probable lineup for Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1): Utkir Yusupov; Abdukodir Khusanov, Jasurbek Urozov (or Rustam Ashurmatov), Abdurauf Abdullaev; Bekzod Karimov, Aleksandr Mozgovoy, Otabek Shukurov, Farrukh Sayfiev; Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Odiljon Khamrobekov (or Oston Urunov); Eldor Shomurodov. Coach: Fabio Cannavaro.
What’s at stake for Group K
A convincing victory for Portugal will not only ease the pressure on Martínez and the squad, but also improve the goal difference in a balanced group. For Uzbekistan, the clash represents the chance to surprise one of the favorites for the title and complicate life for the Europeans. The referee will be Jalal Jayed, from Morocco.
Where to watch live
The match will be broadcast on CazéTV (YouTube), Betano and Prime Video, depending on the region. Fans can also follow it in real time on the main sports portals.