Far from over: Cristiano Ronaldo backs Portugal for strong World Cup response
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The Seleção das Quinas suffered a disappointing 1-1 draw vs DR Congo.
A robust DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 draw in their first FIFA World Cup 2026 encounter, frustrating them. Cristiano Ronaldo missed one of the biggest chances of the game.
Joao Neves’ goal in just six minutes gave Portugal, one of the pre-tournament favourites, an early lead. They appeared to be headed for an easy victory.
However, DR Congo persevered and tied the score just before halftime. Yoane Wissa scored his country’s first World Cup goal by rising to the top of a corner.
During his sixth World Cup appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo played a supporting role, but cut a frustrating figure. He couldn’t muster a single goal and also looked like a shadow of himself.
Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to win the rest of Portugal’s group games
After Portugal’s World Cup 2026 campaign started with a disheartening 1-1 tie with DR Congo, captain Cristiano Ronaldo said, “It’s far from over.”
“We didn’t miss anything today. This is football. We could have won, we could have lost. It wasn’t the start we wanted, but this is far from over. Heads up and focus on the next game.”
In the end, Portugal were not good enough. Their opponents deserve a great deal of praise for the way they retaliated. However, despite boasting a squad full of talented stars, Ronaldo and Co. were unable to put in a spirited performance and suffered a disappointing draw.
Portugal will play their next Group K match in Houston. On Tuesday, they play Uzbekistan. On June 27, they will travel to Miami to play Colombia in their last group match.
Cristiano Ronaldo will be eager to bounce back after a frustrating outing in his sixth World Cup appearance, as Portugal still hope to finish top of their group.
Where do Portugal stand in their group?
They are third in Group K.
When is their next game?
Their next game is on 23rd June, 10:30 pm IST.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.