Portugal opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, a result overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s quiet display. Despite playing the full match without a shot on target, head coach Roberto Martinez defended his decision not to substitute him, citing his influence on defensive structures rather than raw statistics. Ronaldo brushed off criticism postmatch, while Martinez pointed to past World Cup comebacks as Portugal prepares for tougher tests against Uzbekistan and Colombia.
