Dugout Discussion
6 July 2026 56 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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One of the more attractive-looking last-16 ties sees Portugal take on Spain at the Dallas Stadium.

Kick-off in the Iberian derby is at 20:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez makes one change from his side’s 2-1 victory over Croatia in the last round.

Rafael Leao ($7.8m) makes way as Joao Felix ($6.5m) takes his place on the left wing.

Luis de la Fuente names an unchanged Spain XI after Thursday’s impressive 3-0 win against Austria.

Pedro Porro ($5.5m) and Dani Olmo ($7.7m) keep their places, having come into the line-up in the Round of 32.

Porro is the only member of the Spain backline eligible for Scouting Bonus.

LINE-UPS

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

Subs: Sa, Rui Silva, Semedo, Araujo, Dalot, Inacio, Samu Costa, Nunes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Neves, Ramos, Trincao, Leao, Guedes, Conceicao.

Spain XI: Simon, Porro, Laporte, Cubarsi, Cucurella, Baena, Rodri, Pedri, Olmo, Oyarzabal, Yamal.

Subs: Raya, Joan Garcia, Pubill, Grimaldo, Eric Garcia, Llorente, Merino, Ruiz, Gavi, Zubimendi, Torres, Pino, Williams, Munoz, Iglesias.


56 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. bso
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    Captain Oyarzabal or Cucu?
    Thanks!

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      4 days, 16 hours ago

      Cucurella

      1. IAWC ( It's a Wonderfu…
        • 8 Years
        4 days, 16 hours ago

        Even if no cs shield?

        1. Mozumbus
          • 4 Years
          4 days, 16 hours ago

          Cucurella plays so advanced

  2. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    Portugal

    GK Diogo Costa
    DL Nuno Mendes
    DC Renato Veiga
    DC Ruben Dias
    DR Joao Cancelo
    DMC Joao Neves
    DMC Vitinha
    AML Joao Felix
    AMC Bruno Fernandes
    AMR Pedro Neto
    FW C. Ronaldo

    Spain

    GK Unai Simon
    DL M. Cucurella
    DC A. Laporte
    DC Pau Cubarsi
    DR Pedro Porro
    DMC Rodri
    DMC Pedri
    AML Alex Baena
    AMC Dani Olmo
    AMR Lamine Yamal
    FW M. Oyarzabal

  3. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    The fake outrage over Trumps phone call to FIFA is embarrassing.

    FIFA overturned a 3 match ban for Ronaldo last year. He served a 1 game ban.

    You didn't see the FPL community take to X on mass to complain and yelp with such hurt feelings.

    You don't see the same hurt people making the Ronaldo comparison either.

    Both FIFA outcomes are wrong.

    Ronaldo's FIFA decision is below

    “In line with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probation period. If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team.”

    Have a nice evening

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 16 hours ago

      Not worth reposting.

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

      I think they should rescind the three reds in the opening game, replay the game and start the tournament from the beginning….

    3. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      4 days, 15 hours ago

      So, did you show support for Ronaldo a year ago the way you're supporting Trump and Balogun now?

  4. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    Ronaldo had just one touch in the box v Croatia, and that was taking the penalty. Not what you need from your number 9.

  5. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    Like France, Spain could field a second first team from their bench….incredible depth

  6. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 16 hours ago

    With this Spain pressure, good to see Ronaldo tracking back from the penalty spot to the edge of the (Spanish) box…

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 16 hours ago

      😀

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 16 hours ago

        You know he’ll now go on and get a brace in this game….with two touches in the box over 90mins…

  7. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 15 hours ago

    Anyone have a link to Ronnie’s heat maps from all games so far?

    Or just link me to a picture of a blank pitch…

  8. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 15 hours ago

    Ronaldo playing like an injured player

  9. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 15 hours ago

    An okay match so far.

  10. JBG
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 15 hours ago

    The delivery from these Portuguese wingers are shambolic

  11. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 15 hours ago

    Nuno Mendes injured and subbed in 55th minute.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 15 hours ago

      *56th

    2. Not again Shirley
      • 9 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      Standard bad fantasy luck. Nearly scored too.

  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Wouldn’t be scared of playing either of these.

  13. JBG
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    So Portugal wingers and fullbacks just forgot how to cross I guess? Probably doesn't help that Mendes got injured.

  14. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Someone please score , don’t want xtra time

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      😆

  15. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Spain 1-0

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      Merino goal, Torres.assist.

  16. PartyTime
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Ronaldo no world cup

  17. JBG
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    There it is... last match for CR at Portugal at a WC.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      He’ll probably become manager and pick himself

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      Maybe.

  18. JBG
    • 8 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Just shite cross after shite cross or through ball. Spain fully deserve this win. Portugal have been bad.

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      First good cross and it ends up at Bilva -_-

  19. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    That Ronaldo-Messi final will now have to be played in the back of a McDonald's car park.

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      Will probably be Mbappe vs Messl Part 2.

  20. OverTinker
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    People still compare Ronaldo to Messi

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      One of the greats,.but not as good as Messi.

  21. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Spain win, advance and.will face.the winner of USA vs Belgium at Quarterfinals.

  22. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Spain are still yet to concede a gpal in this World Cup.

    Very impressive.

    1. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      4 days, 13 hours ago

      yes- they will be hard for any team to play

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 11 hours ago

      Portugal the only decent team they've played and they were fairly toothless in attack. Spanish attack weren't too impressive in some games.

  23. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Not a single open play goal from Ronaldo in any knockout game of a world cup. What an absolute fraud! Lol. Back to the Saudi league for him to vulture some more cheap goals to stat pad. He held Portugal back yet again. Zero impact on the game. Martinez is a disgrace for not only continuing to start him but also playing 90 in every game apart from one. He should be sacked.

    1. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 14 hours ago

      Siuuuuuuuu

      1. gooberman
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        4 days, 13 hours ago

        Yep he will get plenty more chance to do that back in the Saudi league stat padding against Sunday league level players.

    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 11 hours ago

      Maybe you could coach them?

  24. Fifa las vegas
    • 13 Years
    4 days, 14 hours ago

    Stick with Quinones 9 pts captain or switch to Messi and then Diaz/Munoz as backup?

    1. Mozumbus
      • 4 Years
      4 days, 13 hours ago

      I'd twist
      Messi can easily score two

    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 13 hours ago

      Twist.

    3. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      4 days, 11 hours ago

      Switcheroo.

  25. karam94
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 7 Years
    4 days, 13 hours ago

    Spain fans - what are the chances that Olmo & Baena don't start next game?

    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 days, 13 hours ago

      I think they have amy choice but to.

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        4 days, 12 hours ago

        Lets try that again:

        I do not think they have any choice at this point really.

  26. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 12 hours ago

    USA

    GK Matt Freese
    DL A. Robinson
    DC C. Richards
    DC Tim Ream
    DR Alex Freeman
    MC M. Tillman
    MC Tyler Adams
    MC W. McKennie
    FWL C. Pulisic
    FWR Sergino Dest
    FW F. Balogun

    Belgium

    GK T. Courtois
    DL M. De Cuyper
    DC Nathan Ngoy
    DC B. Mechele
    DR T. Castagne
    DMC Y. Tielemans
    DMC Amadou Onana
    AML D. Lukebakio
    AMC N. Raskin
    AMR L. Trossard
    FW C. De Ketelaere

    1. MOTHRA
      • 10 Years
      4 days, 12 hours ago

      Balogun is banned.

      Oh no wait, let me check the small print and make a call.

  27. KAPTAIN KANE SERVES THE PAI…
    • 9 Years
    4 days, 12 hours ago

    Legit wouldn’t be surprised to see Ronaldo rock up again at the 2030 World Cup and 2028 Euros!

  28. MShalkz
    • 5 Years
    4 days, 11 hours ago

    Pulisic (Scouting Bonus) or Dest (Defender OOP) for Captaincy shortly? Currently leaning towards Pulisic as think Belgium will score