Portugal wary of DR Congo's World Cup return, eyes first title with Ronaldo

Portugal is determined to secure a victory against the Democratic Republic of Congo in their opening World Cup Group K match, despite the DRC's long absence from the tournament. The match marks another opportunity for 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo to pursue the only major title missing from his illustrious career.

Portugal's best World Cup performance was a third-place finish in 1966. Defender Matheus Nunes has warned his teammates not to become complacent due to their higher ranking on paper. He stressed that the World Cup is a fast and competitive tournament where any team can perform well. "Maybe there are teams that look weaker on paper, but anything can happen in 90 minutes," Nunes stated.

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The World Cup is a very fast and competitive tournament. All teams have their own quality and we have to consider every match like a final.

Historically, Portugal has a strong record against African teams in the World Cup group stage, remaining undefeated in their last five encounters with four wins and one draw. However, the DRC's journey to the tournament was hampered by an Ebola outbreak in their country, requiring many European-based players to undergo a 21-day quarantine in Belgium and Spain before entering the United States.

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Maybe there are teams that look weaker on paper, but anything can happen in 90 minutes.