Portugal will look to make a winning start to Group K as they take on the DR Congo at the Houston Stadium on Wednesday night.
Portugal qualified for their seventh consecutive World Cup and their ninth overall, as they topped their World Cup qualifying group.
Roberto Martinez’s men took 13 points from their six qualifiers (W4-D1-L1) – with their solitary defeat coming in Dublin – but still finished three points clear of the Irish in second place and five ahead of Hungary.
That loss to the Republic of Ireland is their only defeat across their last 13 matches in all competitions (W10-D2-L1), a run which includes a Nations League triumph over reigning European champions Spain on penalties last June.
The DR Congo’s route to just their second-ever appearance at the World Cup finals – and first since 1974 – was a bit more complicated than that of their opponents.
The Leopards finished in second position in their World Cup qualifying group, two points behind African powerhouses Senegal, before defeating Jamaica 1-0 in extra time in an intercontinental playoff clash.
Sebastien Desabre will hope his side makes a far better impression than they did on their debut in West Germany in 1974, when they lost all three of their group-stage matches to Scotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil, shipping 14 goals and scoring none.
How the bookies view it: Portugal favourites
Portugal are heavy favourites to make a winning start in Group K, with bet365 pricing a Portuguese success at just 2/7.
DR Congo are 9/1 underdogs to claim their first-ever victory at the World Cup finals, whilst the draw is also unfancied at 19/4.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
It will come as no particular surprise that Wednesday’s clash in Texas will be the first-ever meeting between these two nations.
Players to watch: Bruno to bag another assist?
Bruno Fernandes broke the all-time Premier League record for assists in one season this campaign, as he recorded 21 assists for Manchester United this season.
The Manchester United captain also recorded a couple of assists for Portugal in qualifying – as well as a couple against the USA in a friendly at the start of April – and looks good value at 5/2 at bet365 to record another assist on Wednesday.
Predicted line-ups:
Both nations appear to be at full strength for Wednesday’s clash in Texas.
Portugal: Costa, Cancelo, Dias, Inacio, Mendes, Silva, Vitinha, Fernandes, Neto, Leao, Ronaldo
DR Congo: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Kayembe, Kakuta, Bongonda, Elia, Wissa
Anything else catch the eye?
Portugal are fancied to do well in North America this summer and are heavy favourites to make a winning start to their World Cup campaign against a DR Congo side that last appeared at the World Cup finals in 1974.
Roberto Martinez’s men are prolific in front of goal, firing in an impressive 20 goals across their six World Cup qualifiers, scoring a minimum of two goals in five of those clashes.
However, the Selecao are far from watertight at the back, recording only four clean sheets across their last 14 matches in all competitions, meaning I’m happy to combine a Portuguese Win & Over 2.5 Goals, which pays 5/6 at bet365.
This selection has also paid out in both of Portugal’s recent victories over Chile and Nigeria in friendlies, which only adds to the appeal.
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