Dugout Discussion
23 June 2026 97 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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The second wave of World Cup group matches – Round 2 in Fantasy terms – concludes this evening with four more fixtures.

We begin with Portugal v Uzbekistan, which kicks off at 18:00 BST.

Roberto Martinez’s side are sitting in third after a disappointing Round 1 draw with DR Congo, so won’t be mathematically assured of progress to the knockout rounds even with a win tonight.

Uzbekistan are point-less after their World Cup debut defeat to Colombia, meanwhile. A loss to Portugal won’t end their tournament unless DR Congo beat Colombia in the later Group K game.

TEAM NEWS

Martínez makes two changes to his starting XI, both involving Manchester City players (only just).

Ruben Dias ($5.0m), who wasn’t fit in Round 1, comes in for Tomas Araujo ($4.1m) at centre-half.

In midfield, Bernardo Silva ($7.8m), who will leave City to join Real Madrid in July, drops down to the bench. Joao Felix ($6.5m) replaces him.

Despite criticism of his performances from the terraces, the media and beyond, Cristiano Ronaldo ($10.0m) keeps his place up top.

Uzbekistan’s head coach, Fabio Cannavaro, makes three alterations, meanwhile.

There’s a change between the sticks as Abduvokhid Nematov ($4.0m) ousts Utkir Yusupov ($3.9m).

Odiljon Khamrobekov ($5.3m) and Aziz G’aniev ($5.3m) also come into the side for Akmal Mozgovoy ($4.7m) and Oston Urunov ($5.6m).

Here are the most-owned players in tonight’s fixture:

LINE-UPS

Portugal XI: Costa, Mendes, Veiga, Dias, Cancelo, Vitinha, Neves, Felix, Fernandes, Neto, Ronaldo.

Subs: Sá, Rui Silva, Semedo, Araújo, Dalot, Inácio, Samú Costa, Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Neves, Ramos, Trincão, Leão, Guedes, Conceição

Uzbekistan XI: Nematov, Ashurmatov, Abdullaev, Khusanov, Nasrullaev, Shukurov, Khamrobekov, Karimov, G’aniev, Fayzullaev, Shomurodov.

Subs: Yusupov, Ergashev, Alijonov, Sayfiev, Eshmurodov, Ulmasaliyev, Urozov, Mozgovoy, Iskanderov, Jiyanov, Urunov, Khamdamov, Esanov, Amanov, Sergeev.


97 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    25 mins ago

    137 goals so far…average of three per game…highest for this number of games at this stage…

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      16 mins ago

      To be expected with the expansion of the 1st round and lower quality of some teams.

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      11 mins ago

      A bit unusual. Didn't expect this amount of goals. Good for the gambling troop.

  2. JBG
    • 8 Years
    24 mins ago

    Fcking lol... Neto won't get scout points now, would've got it if not subbed before 60pts. Oh well.

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      14 mins ago

      You were in my thoughts the moment Martinez subbed him off. Happy he did though since I held off the move to get him in

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        12 mins ago

        Was so pleased with myself when he got that adisst, thinking he will surely outscore Bruno now with those extra points. Guess not. But replacing Bruno with Neto allowed me to bring in Vini, Messi, Mbappe and Kane.

        1. PartyTime
          • 4 Years
          6 mins ago

          Well played. That was my first WC draft but I rejiggered the team & got 5 bellends so far.

  3. tutankamun
    • 16 Years
    21 mins ago

    Canceloff

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    13 mins ago

    How does this WC look:

    Martinez - Fofana
    Cucurella - Dumfries - Hakimi - Freemen - Dest
    Olise - Araujo - Summerville - Saibari - Nmecha
    Messi - Mbappe - Gakpo

    Any obvious poor picks?

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 mins ago

      7.3/10. Double USA defence is excess. Not sure Martinez is a safe nailed pick because of the expected rotation. You really think Messi starts vs Jordan? I'm doubtful.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        just now

        Martinez to Bounou?

        Double US defence for the giggles

        Yep, reckon Messi starts cause this golden boot thing gonna be big…

  5. JBG
    • 8 Years
    12 mins ago

    CR down, clever FK tbh

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      11 mins ago

      Yeah, had me again…like the first one…

      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        10 mins ago

        Guess you can say, they Jafooled you?

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          3 mins ago

          Sure did…

  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    12 mins ago

    Bruno pass for FK was epic…

  7. JBG
    • 8 Years
    11 mins ago

    Uzbekistan might have the worst GKer?

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      1 min ago

      Masuaku & Wissa lurking

  8. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    11 mins ago

    Ronnie hatty?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      5 mins ago

      O.G by at least one Uzbekistan player

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 mins ago

        Yep, Peter Ustinov…

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 mins ago

      Gonna claim it, for sure…probs OG?

  9. tuturututu
    • 5 Years
    6 mins ago

    Bruno asist for that OG?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      5 mins ago

      No assist, atm

    2. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      2 mins ago

      Bruno to Felix to Khusanov to GK. At least not a Bruno assist.

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 mins ago

    England team sheet out yet?