Dugout Discussion

Portugal v DR Congo team news: Dias not fit, Inacio a sub

17 June 2026 108 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The next 12 hours will see the remaining four Round 1 World Cup matches take place, starting with Portugal v DR Congo.

Kick-off at a wet Houston is at 18:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

There’s no Ruben Dias ($5.0m) in the Portuguese starting XI this evening, with boss Roberto Martinez revealing in his pre-match presser yesterday that the Manchester City man wasn’t “100% fit”.

Despite the absence of one centre-half, and despite starting Portugal’s final pre-tournament friendly, Gonçalo Inácio ($4.6m) finds himself among the substitutes.

Instead, it’s Renato Veiga ($4.3m) and Tomas Araujo ($4.1m) – owned by just 0.1% of Fantasy managers apiece – who line up at centre-back.

Nuno Mendes ($5.8m), whose fitness limited him to 35 minutes in last week’s win over Nigeria, starts at left-back.

Further forward, Pedro Neto ($6.4m) and Bernardo Silva ($7.8m) get the nod out wide, so it’s bench duty for João Félix ($6.5m), Rafael Leão ($7.8m), Trincao ($5.9m) and Francisco Conceição ($5.7m).

Bruno Fernandes ($8.5m) and Cristiano Ronaldo ($10.0m) start, of course, two of several Portugal players ineligible for Scouting Bonus:

Portugal Congo

That’s not a problem any of DR Congo’s squad has. Not one of their players is owned by more than 1% of managers.

The Leopards appear to be going defence-first in a 5-3-2 set-up tonight, with Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa ($6.2m) pairing Cédric Bakambu ($6.5m) up top.

LINE-UPS

Portugal XI: Diogo Costa, Cancelo, Araújo, Veiga, Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bernardo Silva, Fernandes, Neto, Ronaldo. 

Subs: Semedo, Dalot, Rui Silva, Conceição, João Félix, Guedes, Inácio, Trincão, Sá, Ramos, Nunes, Leão, Ruben Neves, Samú Costa, Dias.

Congo DR XI: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapaudi, Masuaku, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Kayembe, Bakambu, Wissa. 

Subs: Banza, Batubinsika, Bongonda, Elia, Epolo, Fayulu, Kakuta, Mayele, Kalulu, Kayembe, Cipenga, Mbuku, Pickel, Sadiki, Tshibola.

108 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 21 mins ago

    Dr congo look the best of the African teams apart from Morocco..

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 40 mins ago

      I will pick DR Congo over Morocco because of that goal celebration. It shows how united they are. Very compact team.

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  2. Count of Monte Hristo
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 20 mins ago

    Messi has scored 9 World Cup goals since Homelander last scored one.

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  3. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    3 hours, 19 mins ago

    Why do they always show Infantino? Seeing his face makes me feel sick. Trump's buddy..

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 17 mins ago

      I dont know he flies so fast between games.. seems to be there every game!

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      1. bso
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 18 mins ago

        Making sure all his corrupt efforts are successful.

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  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 12 mins ago

    All the "favourites" have looked kind of shite, except for France.

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    1. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 9 mins ago

      And Germany and argentina?

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 5 mins ago

        Germany weren't fav and played a shite side. Argentina, imo, also not fav, but might prove me wrong and go far.

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        1. jacob1989
          • 4 Years
          3 hours, 2 mins ago

          They are atleast as much as favourites portugal are..

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          1. JBG
            • 8 Years
            3 hours, 1 min ago

            Agree, but Portugal have fcked up a golden generation by having the Spanish Moyes as manager. So that fav stamp was never warranted imo.

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    2. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 54 mins ago

      Favourites are meaningless at this stage of the tournament. All major nations will qualify to the knockouts and from there any of those teams can beat each other on the night. Too many variables and it becomes about who finds their best form at the right moment.

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 53 mins ago

        True enough tbf. Just expected more from certain teams.

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    3. The Hunt
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      2 hours, 31 mins ago

      Congrats on getting "shite" posted. I usually get modded for that.

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  5. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 10 mins ago

    If cr7 leaves that, easy goal for bruno

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  6. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Is cr7 the only squad member in Portugal of 26.players who is a center forward? Irreplaceable?

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    1. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 58 mins ago

      Goncalo Ramos

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  7. z13
    • 1 Year
    3 hours, 2 mins ago

    Attempted to change captain from Bruno to Kane but can't? Will I be able to after Bruno's match ends?

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 2 mins ago

      Yes, wait

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 1 min ago

      I think bruno is locked now. Wait after game ends

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  8. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 55 mins ago

    Bruno Fernandes hasn't had a sniff. Highest owned flop star in the game

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    1. Count of Monte Hristo
      • 13 Years
      1 hour, 55 mins ago

      Everyone who plays FPL just had to sleepwalk into picking him for the World Cup game when there are so many more fun picks.

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      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        1 hour, 52 mins ago

        Hahahahhaha...

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    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 27 mins ago

      Will get rid of him for Vini or Raphina

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  9. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 53 mins ago

    If Congo had more composure in the final third they would long ago have won the game.

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  10. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 53 mins ago

    So many people wrote Congo off but not me! I knew they would choke Portugal for sure.

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  11. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 39 mins ago

    Poor match from Portugal and Ronaldo. Good stuff from DR Congo.

    Poor Uzbekistan on next round though.

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  12. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 38 mins ago

    How are Bruno fanboys feeling?

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  13. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 37 mins ago

    Spain vs Cabo Verde was my favorite match but this match was fun!! 😆

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  14. The Philosopher
    • 5 Years
    2 hours, 37 mins ago

    Also, how are Ronaldo fanboys feeling?

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    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 35 mins ago

      Dead chuffed

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    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      2 hours, 28 mins ago

      All on antidepressants together with Ronaldo

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  15. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 30 mins ago

    What a terrible experience it's been listening to Giroud and Rooney on BBC. Thick Rooney just sounds like an embarrassment and about as educated as a 10 year old and Giroud talks so slow it's painful to listen to.

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  16. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 29 mins ago

    Vini or Raphina?

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 25 mins ago

      Vini

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    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      Probably Vini, but Raphinha is due a goal.

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  17. jacob1989
    • 4 Years
    2 hours, 28 mins ago

    Gordon and madueke start over saka..

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 24 mins ago

      Isn't mr.Limpy still not 100%?

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  18. Koflok
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 21 mins ago

    Best 12th man for MD2?

    Was set on Kane (cos I have Rapinha) but now tempted by Messi.

    Obviously knee jerky after his hattrick, but he is so central to every attack. Everyone just works around and for him.

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    1. Koflok
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 21 mins ago

      A) Kane
      B) Vini
      C) Messi
      D) Yamal

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      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        2 hours, 20 mins ago

        Probably B.

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      2. jacob1989
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 18 mins ago

        Probably vini bcoz of opposition. But messi still seems better option

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  19. Fray Bentos
    • 16 Years
    2 hours, 20 mins ago

    Any good option for a 6.4 mid?

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  20. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    2 hours, 18 mins ago

    Worth taking a hit for a Brazil defender vs Haiti?

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    1. NZREDS
      • 12 Years
      2 hours, 14 mins ago

      I can see Haiti nabbing a goal, could be wrong though

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    2. jacob1989
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 14 mins ago

      No but an attacker. Vini or raphinha maybe

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  21. eririi
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 11 mins ago

    Any chance Ronaldo is dropped against Uzbekistan?

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    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      1 hour, 51 mins ago

      Ramos is somehow worse... so not sure.

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