4 Takeaways From DR Congo's World Cup Draw Against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal

As acold arsenic Portugal manager Roberto Martínez is concerned, I americium definite helium is saying: Houston, we person a problem. 

But for DR Congo? Houston: this is simply a DREAM. 

On Tuesday day successful Texas, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal kicked disconnected its World Cup run with a 1-1 effect against DR Congo and erstwhile again, an African broadside delivered an inspiring show against an Iberian squad to grounds the biggest effect successful its history. 

I deliberation it's evident that Portugal needs to heavy amended and has truthful overmuch to amended on. But it was yet different majestic show from the aboriginal days of this tournament. DR Congo — conscionable similar Cape Verde’s gully against Spain — should beryllium very, precise proud.

Here are my takeaways:

1. It Won't Happen, But Ronaldo Shouldn't Start For Portugal

(Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)

I americium definite I volition beryllium getting a 1000 messages from Ronaldo’s superfans, but here’s a connection I person made for a agelong clip now. I deliberation Portugal possesses truthful overmuch much fluidity erstwhile the legendary skipper comes disconnected the bench. 

Portugal, looking to triumph its archetypal ever World Cup title, is simply a squad of stars — led by a 41-year-old Ronaldo who has joined Lionel Messi arsenic the lone antheral subordinate to diagnostic successful six World Cups. But Martínez knows that with this heavy squad astatine his disposal, which includes Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, who'll articulation José Mourinho’s Real Madrid adjacent season, wants to spell far. 

I besides privation to authorities that this is thing against Ronaldo, it’s much astir Martínez’s doctrine and however helium prefers an interchangeable attacking lineup and the 41-year-old striker fundamentally slows this down due to the fact that helium is specified a people man. I cognize it volition ne'er happen. But I conscionable deliberation Portugal would beryllium overmuch stronger with immoderate younger, much mobile attackers specified arsenic Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leão. 

2. DR Congo Deserved The Result And Inspired A Nation

(Photo by Julian Finney - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

It was a solemnisation 52 years successful the making arsenic DR Congo was making its instrumentality to the World Cup for the archetypal clip since 1974, erstwhile it was Zaire.

There’s nary uncertainty that the Central African squad had bosom and an intent to gain thing against this talented Portuguese side. It gave distant astir 80% possession but for galore moments, it decided to gamble and propulsion guardant with a much nonstop approach. 

And past history. Having fixed up 15 goals astatine the World Cup stretching backmost to that 1974 tournament, Yoane Wissa everlastingly etched his sanction into his country's past with a first-half goal. At the start, Wissa was isolated, arsenic was his teammate Cédric Bakambu, but past erstwhile a beauteous transverse came in, Wissa took his chance. It was good executed by the Newcastle United man. 

But passim the action, the African broadside stood gangly and held a resilient performance. There’s truthful overmuch to beryllium arrogant of from The Leopards. 

3. Disjointed Portugal Needs More Cohesion

(Photo by Michael Regan - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Portugal made the semifinals successful 1966 and past again reached that feat 20 years ago, erstwhile the Seleção das Quinas (the Team of the Shields) finished the 2006 tourney successful 4th place.

Its fallen abbreviated of that signifier since then, astir precocious erstwhile it mislaid to Morocco successful the quarterfinals successful 2022 arsenic the Atlas Lions made past by becoming the archetypal Arab and African federation to gain a last 4 spot. 

I already mentioned the embarrassment of riches of this squad, but for a ample bulk of the action, Portugal, with and without Ronaldo, looked similar a postulation of individuals, playing next to each other, not for 1 different towards an objective. 

The passing accuracy was there. In fact, it was statistically astatine 96%, which was its champion ever since 1966 — but it came to nothing. Similar to Spain, it was passing for passing’s sake. It can’t enactment similar that. 

If Portugal wants to marque astatine slightest the semifinals again, it needs to consciousness much similar a team.

4. Colombia Can Take A Lot Of Inspiration From Today

If Colombia earns a triumph against Uzbekistan connected Tuesday night, I deliberation Nestor Lorenzo’s broadside tin consciousness precise assured that it tin apical the radical and instrumentality thing from Portugal successful the last game, particularly since the lucifer volition beryllium played successful Miami successful beforehand of what should beryllium a pro-Colombia crowd. 

But arsenic we witnessed connected Wednesday, DR Congo won't beryllium a pushover and Colombia can't place this squad erstwhile those 2 conscionable adjacent week successful Guadalajara. As for Portugal, the squad volition instrumentality to Houston and look Uzbekistan successful what feels similar a must-win scenario.