Dugout Discussion
23 June 2026 122 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.


122 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. SM001
    • 10 Years
    4 hours, 45 mins ago

    Anyone else having issues with the FIFA website?

    1. DeadStarComing
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 hours, 42 mins ago

      Yep. Can't access team. 404 error. Dreadful.

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

      The billions they have won't fix the site either

    3. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 hours, 36 mins ago

      Not just me then, the app was all over the shop. Maybe someone switched the server room aircon off.

    4. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 31 mins ago

      Yep, says 404, was hoping that was my points total, but gives a helpful Error alert…

    5. captainjilflex
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      4 hours, 29 mins ago

      Yeah I’m getting the same error. I subbed my Portugal players in earlier but will be pissed if I can’t sub Bellingham in later.

    6. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      4 hours, 29 mins ago

      All present and correct.

    7. Jack Burton
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      4 hours, 10 mins ago

      Yep thought i lost my team

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 32 mins ago

    VAR includes an Argentinian - no goals for Ronnie then…

    1. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 hours, 30 mins ago

      The way he's been playing that won't be anything to do with VAR.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 hours, 28 mins ago

        True - same Bruno who just skied one…

    2. Goro Majima
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      4 hours, 25 mins ago

      Haha, inevitably.

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 hours, 21 mins ago

        Ha, true, we’re all caught out….

  3. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 29 mins ago

    Fun fact - the ‘v’ button on Uzbek computer keyboards are reinforced

  4. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    4 hours, 27 mins ago

    Ronaldo slips in just millimetres away; and he knows it.

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 27 mins ago

    A younger striker would have got that…

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 25 mins ago

      …never doubted Ronnie lol

  6. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Gets in this time. 1-0

  7. Herger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    4 hours, 25 mins ago

    Pessi fanboys in tatters

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 24 mins ago

      Some noise from the crowd…suuuuiiiii

  8. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    4 hours, 24 mins ago

    Matterface is a shameless man. Making little comments about Ronaldo having no touches and starting the match, then hypes him up

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        4 hours, 19 mins ago

        He has bigger abs than you

        And he has more goals than Messi !!

        1. Jafooli
          • 14 Years
          4 hours, 17 mins ago

          True on both counts….

  9. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 21 mins ago

    I know he's not liked by many
    But in a way I'm pleased to see Ronaldo score & smiling again .

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 18 mins ago

      Yep, agreed - very unfortunate to play almost exactly the same period as Messi, but it does eat away at Ronnie more than the Argentinian…

    2. JBG
      • 8 Years
      4 hours, 11 mins ago

      I agree with this, also one of the few superstars that has helped people in a certain place that's been attacked throughout the history.. so he gains sympathy points from me because of that as well.

  10. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 16 mins ago

    CR7 free kick special incoming….

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 14 mins ago

      Class free kick that….Ronnie should get an assist lol

    2. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      4 hours, 14 mins ago

      Ronaldo assist for not taking it, lol

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 hours, 12 mins ago

        Agreed - he actually celebrated someone else scoring, which was amusing

    3. keefy59
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      4 hours, 13 mins ago

      He should get an assist for letting Mendez take that free kick
      It made sense though left footer on the right side

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 hours, 11 mins ago

        Defo caught them off guard…

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

    Get in, Neto assist and N.Mendes G

  12. Bobby Digital
    • 8 Years
    4 hours, 8 mins ago

    Went Cancelo over Mendes... Booo!

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 56 mins ago

      Your only 4 points down
      Cancelo looks sharp

      1. Bobby Digital
        • 8 Years
        3 hours, 51 mins ago

        Reason was Mendes lack of minutes in pre WC friendlies

  13. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 7 mins ago

    Commentators ripping the keeper
    Idiots

  14. HVT
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 6 mins ago

    Mendes

  15. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    4 hours, 2 mins ago

    What a goaaaaaaaal

  16. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 hours, 2 mins ago

    An Uzbek stunner…

    1. tutankamun
      • 16 Years
      4 hours, 1 min ago

      Blatant foul

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 hours, 1 min ago

      …goal of tournament so far, I reckon…

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 hours ago

        …disgraceful, robbed….

      2. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        3 hours, 57 mins ago

        Absolutely. Bent the ball like Roberto Carlos

  17. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    4 hours, 1 min ago

    Sub Optimal from POR

  18. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 hours ago

    What's happened to Cancelo's hair? Looks so weird.

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      3 hours, 51 mins ago

      He looks younger

  19. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 53 mins ago

    Ronaldo G
    Bruno A

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 53 mins ago

    Ronnie brace - worlds on fire

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 52 mins ago

      All the big guns firing rockets - over to Harry Kane

  21. Herger
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 52 mins ago

    Indisputably the GOAT

    1. TheBiffas
      • 5 Years
      3 hours, 40 mins ago

      Don't fall for the bait lads

  22. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 50 mins ago

    Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Haaland, Kane all delivering big, what more could the WC want….

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 50 mins ago

      Been a great WC thus far

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        3 hours, 48 mins ago

        Agreed, enjoying way more than Qatar & Russia…

  23. TheBiffas
    • 5 Years
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Didn't realise you get an extra point for a goal from direct FK, nice

  24. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Wait - we need to sort RD3 wild card teams by 8pm UK time tomorrow?

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      3 hours, 48 mins ago

      Yup

    2. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      3 hours, 47 mins ago

      Happy Tinkering!

    3. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 23 mins ago

      Cheers both…

  25. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Ronaldo stat padding again against dross opposition like he does in the Saudi League.

  26. JBG
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Was pretty bad GKing on that 3rd goal tbh.

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

      Lol. Amateur goalie quietly begging for a Ronaldo hat trick.

  27. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 49 mins ago

    Ronaldo fans redeeming themselves now 😆

  28. keefy59
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 hours, 43 mins ago

    Ronaldo opening up the GOAT debate again
    In my opinion it's a no contest
    Modric is the player that most looks like a goat

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 hours, 20 mins ago

      Lol…

      1. keefy59
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        2 hours, 59 mins ago

        Do you agree ?
        Just needs to grow a pair of horns

  29. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 43 mins ago

    Why do I feel like Ronaldo will be at Euro 2028 lol

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      3 hours, 20 mins ago

      He'll retire when he hits 1000 goals imo. 25 to go. So I think he'll be done before 2028.

  30. Scapegoat Salah
    • 9 Years
    3 hours, 41 mins ago

    The only thing I’ve done right with my fantasy team is have Ronaldo, Messi and Mbappe up top!
    Rest is Trollope!