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Ronaldo's World Cup mission starts with a draw: Portugal held by DR Congo
🇩🇪 Germany /Sports

Ronaldo's World Cup mission starts with a draw: Portugal held by DR Congo

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Portugal, considered a co-favorite, started their World Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Despite early dominance and a goal from João Neves, Portugal conceded an equalizer from Yoane Wissa just before halftime.
  • Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, playing in his sixth World Cup at age 41, remained largely ineffective and went scoreless.

Portugal's World Cup campaign began with a frustrating 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, falling short of expectations for a team considered among the favorites. Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, making his sixth World Cup appearance at 41, had a subdued performance, failing to score and contributing little to the team's offensive efforts.

In the end, the result we expected was, of course, the victory. It naturally takes a toll. We played well, but we didn't get the three points in the end. But we still stand together.

— João NevesNeves expressed disappointment following the draw, acknowledging the team's failure to secure a win despite playing well.

João Neves put Portugal ahead in the sixth minute, seemingly setting the stage for a comfortable victory. However, the team's momentum faltered, and Yoane Wissa equalized for the Congolese side in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on Portugal's tendency to slow the game's tempo. Neves expressed disappointment, stating, "In the end, the result we expected was, of course, the victory. It naturally takes a toll. We played well, but we didn't get the three points in the end. But we still stand together."

The hype surrounding Ronaldo was palpable before the match, with thousands of fans wearing his No. 7 jersey. Portugal's coach, Roberto Martínez, had emphasized Ronaldo's indispensability to the team's attack. However, some observers, like former international Christoph Kramer, suggested that Portugal's squad, packed with world-class talent, might even perform better without Ronaldo's presence potentially limiting their play.

Ronaldo is an icon of world football

— Roberto MartínezPortugal's national coach Roberto Martínez described Cristiano Ronaldo as an icon of world football prior to the match.

The Congolese team, representing a nation impacted by the Ebola crisis, surprised many with their equalizer from a corner kick. The match, held in Houston, saw Portugal control possession for large parts of the game, particularly after taking the lead. Ronaldo, the oldest player ever to start a World Cup match at 41 years and 132 days, largely stayed in the center, waiting for crosses rather than engaging in extensive play.

the Portuguese team is so packed with world-class talent that he can also take a bit away from them

— Christoph KramerFormer international Christoph Kramer commented that Portugal's squad, filled with world-class players, might be hindered by Ronaldo's presence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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