Portugal vs Uzbekistan - prediction, team news, lineups

Following Wednesday's disappointing gully with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Portugal volition look Uzbekistan astatine Houston Stadium connected Tuesday, hoping to genuinely get their 2026 FIFA World Cup run underway.

Currently 3rd successful Group K aft matchday one, the Selecao das Quinas volition beryllium anxious to warrant their presumption arsenic 1 of the favourites to assistance the trophy, portion the White Wolves volition anticipation that their maiden World Cup run does not extremity successful consecutive defeats, which would corroborate their elimination.

Match preview

Following the disappointment of failing to unafraid triumph against DR Congo successful their opening fixture, the spotlight is present firmly connected Roberto Martinez's men to enactment things close against Uzbekistan.

Portugal began their Group K run with a 1-1 gully against DR Congo, wherever Yoane Wissa cancelled retired Joao Neves's sixth-minute opener.

Much of the treatment has centred connected skipper Cristiano Ronaldo pursuing a disappointing display, with galore critics claiming that the legendary guardant hindered the team, peculiarly aft an incidental involving Bruno Fernandes.

Ronaldo played the afloat 90 minutes but struggled to marque an impact, with the five-time Ballon d'Or victor failing to registry a changeable connected people from his 3 attempts, portion the 41-year-old's past extremity successful either of the past 2 World Cups came against Ghana connected matchday 1 successful 2022, starring to further disapproval of his caller performances astatine planetary level.

Portugal's World Cup run continues connected Tuesday against tourney debutants Uzbekistan, who suffered a 3-1 decision to Colombia successful their opening Group K match.

This volition beryllium the first-ever gathering betwixt the 2 nations, though Portugal are winless successful their past 2 World Cup matches against teams from the AFC confederation.

Following their 3-1 decision to Colombia, tourney debutants Uzbekistan volition look Portugal hoping to debar aboriginal elimination connected Tuesday.

Uzbekistan struggled to enforce themselves connected their World Cup debut, but they scored their archetypal extremity of the contention against the tally of play soon aft the hr people against Colombia.

Dostonbek Khamdamov kept an onslaught live by crossing for Eldor Shomurodov, whose well-struck volley was blocked and ricocheted crossed the six-yard box, allowing Abbosbek Fayzullaev to motion into an bare net.

Fabio Cannavaro's broadside remained level for lone 5 minutes, however, arsenic a sweeping counter-attack ended with Gustavo Puerta mounting up Luis Diaz, whose effort slipped past the anemic manus of Utkir Yusupov.

Uzbekistan's tense commencement was highlighted by the information that they failed to grounds a azygous interaction wrong the absorption punishment country during the archetypal half, making them the lone broadside astatine this World Cup to bash truthful frankincense far.

By that stage, they had registered an xG of conscionable 0.02, but their archetypal interaction successful the absorption container resulted successful their archetypal World Cup goal, with Fayzullaev successful the close spot to gain the favoritism of scoring the nation's maiden extremity successful the competition.

Portugal World Cup form:

D

Portugal signifier (all competitions):

WDWWWD

Uzbekistan World Cup form:

L

Uzbekistan signifier (all competitions):

LWWLLL

Team News

Ruben Dias was a notable absentee from Portugal's starting lineup successful their opener past week, with Martinez revealing that the Manchester City defender was "not 100% fit".

There is simply a accidental Dias could instrumentality to the broadside aft precocious picking up a knock, though helium whitethorn not beryllium risked, with Portugal possessing capable screen to perchance prevention him for the clash with Colombia.

Despite Ronaldo being heavy criticised aft his show against DR Congo, the skipper is expected to clasp his spot successful the squad connected Tuesday.

For Uzbekistan, Khojiakbar Alijonov is among the players who could beryllium considered for a starting berth, with Cannavaro having decisions to marque successful bid to springiness his broadside the champion accidental of taking thing from the game.

The Italian manager is expected to instrumentality with a mostly unchanged lineup contempt the decision to Colombia, with Utkir Yusupov successful extremity and Abdukodir Khusanov and Rustam Ashurmatov apt to proceed arsenic the cardinal antiaircraft pairing.

Portugal imaginable starting lineup:

Costa; Cancelo, Araujo, Veiga, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes; Silva, Neto, Ronaldo

Uzbekistan imaginable starting lineup:

Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullaev, Ashurmatov; Karimov, Mozgovoy, Shukurov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullayev, Urunov, Shomurodov

We say: Portugal 3-0 Uzbekistan

With specified a talented squad astatine their disposal, Portugal should beryllium susceptible of dictating play against astir immoderate squad successful the tourney and volition beryllium anxious to amended connected the solitary changeable connected people they managed against DR Congo.

It whitethorn not beryllium arsenic straightforward arsenic galore expect, and determination person already been capable informing signs astatine this World Cup, but Ronaldo and institution should inactive person capable prime to get the occupation done and alteration the communicative surrounding their campaign.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.