The Portugal World Cup 2026 campaign got rejuvenated as they beat Uzbekistan 5-0 in their group match in Texas on Tuesday, June 23. The Portugal vs Uzbekistan match was one-sided and Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace in it to guide his team towards a victory.
The win came for his team after the Portugal World Cup 2026 campaign got off to an ordinary start with a draw against DR Congo. Here are three reasons why the Portuguese mean business after their emphatic win against the Uzbeks.
#1. Portugal Got More Crosses Coming Into the Box
Both Portuguese full-backs, Joao Cancelo and Nuno Mendes, kept playing crosses into the Uzbekistan penalty box repeatedly.
Nuno Gomes usually prefers moving inside to make those runs into the box, but, on Tuesday, he preferred to move outside into the left flank and then play crosses with his left foot.
As for Cancelo, he once again demonstrated his crossing abilities and the first goal of his team came from one of his crosses to Ronaldo.
With the 41-year-old Ronaldo lurking inside the box, it is always a good idea to play crosses into the box. Those probing deliveries proved to be a handful for the Uzbekistan defence in the Portugal vs Uzbekistan match.
#2. Midfield Strength
Vitinha, the tireless holding midfielder, never stopped circulating the ball after collecting it from his defenders. His job is similar to what Bernardo Silva used to do for Manchester City.
There is probably no midfielder in the world, who covers the width of the pitch as often as Vitinha does. His constant circulation of the ball means that Portugal wastes no time in launching their attacks from their defensive third.
Another astute passer of the ball is Bruno Fernandes, whose perfectly measured pass found Ronaldo for the latter’s second goal of the match. Anytime Portugal got space on the opposition half, Fernandes was looking to play those killer passes to stun the opposition defence. Fernandes thus remains a very important member of the Portugal World Cup 2026 team.
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#3. Ronaldo Regaining His Form Could Be Very Crucial for Portugal World Cup 2026 Hopes
There was enough motivation for Ronaldo to excel in the Portugal vs Uzbekistan match. The likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland have been among goals, and it only made sense for him to be raring to go.
Ronaldo let his football do the talking against the criticism he had been receiving after Portugal’s goalless draw with DR Congo. He could have scored a hat-trick and went close to scoring a third goal on a couple of occasions.
If Portugal are to win their first ever World Cup, they will need the man who is probably the greatest goal-scorer of all time, to be at the top of his game. Roberto Martinez’s team has a great midfield but need a potent goal-scorer up front.
Ronaldo showed on Tuesday that he can be that man, as he has been for two decades now. The Portuguese have a relatively easy path to the quarterfinals if they top the group, and Ronaldo must know that too well.
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