I’ve enjoyed taking this line in the early mismatches of the group stage. We only need one card for this leg of our bet builder to come in, which is always likely when Portugal have to try and stop DR Congo breaking away quickly.

This has been a recurring situation throughout the early group stage matches, and frustration could also come into play for Roberto Martinez’s side if they are slow to find a way past the low block of DR Congo.

DR Congo can be stubborn, but I do expect Portugal to eventually break them down and go on to win by a couple of goals.

There's so much quality in this Portugal side, and Ronaldo will also be aware that this is one of his few real chances to add to his World Cup goal tally - which, for a player of his standing, isn't actually that impressive.

Portugal scored 20 goals in six qualifying games (3.33 per game), and they have the firepower to unlock what's expected to be a low block from Congo, thanks to the talented midfield trio of Fernandes, Vitinha and Neves.

DR Congo conceded two goals in their final warm-up against Chile, and recent form suggests their stubbornness can waver against elite opposition; they've shipped 3+ goals in games against Senegal and Morocco within the last year.

Cristiano Ronaldo may be 41, but he’s still going to play a key role at this World Cup for Portugal in what is likely to be his last stab at winning the competition.

Ronaldo scored 28 goals across 30 starts for Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League during the 25/26 season, averaging 5.55 shots per 90 and 2.07 shots on target per 90. 

He’s scored 30+ goals in each of his last three seasons in the Saudi Pro League, which is admittedly a lower standard of football than Europe - but his international record is just as promising.

Ronaldo scored five goals across five starts for Portugal during qualifying, but the real story from his data is his shot volume. He took 31 shots across these games (7.44 per 90), seeing 12 of these efforts find the target (2.88 per 90).

This tells me that Ronaldo is pretty desperate to make the most of what should be his final World Cup. His overall record for Portugal is also seriously impressive, scoring 143 goals across 228 caps since 2003.

Nuno Mendes is definitely the best left back in the world, and that status has mainly been achieved by how effective he is going forward.

He’s so effective in the final third that Luis Enrique has even played him as part of the front three for PSG at times during the 25/26 season, but he’s just as effective when it comes to getting shots away from left back.

He averaged 2.16 shots per 90 for PSG during the 25/26 Ligue 1 season, as well as 1.09 shots per 90 during the Champions League campaign. 

This record also translates to his performances for the national team, taking five shots across his four appearances during qualifying (1.38 per 90).

Noah Sadiki is one of the more established players in this DR Congo side and will have to play an important role if the African side are to get something from this game.

I regularly backed Sadiki for foul involvements during the 25/26 Premier League season due to how much ground he covers and how aggressive he is with his challenges. He was fouled 40 times across 33 appearances in the Premier League last season (1.24 per 90).

Portugal will dominate possession, but in the moments where DR Congo can pinch the ball back, Sadiki can frustrate with his ability to drive with the ball through central areas. The longer DR Congo can keep Portugal frustrated, the more chance they will have to get a foothold in the game, and a large part of that will be winning fouls to break up the game.

Portugal averaged 6.84 corners per game during qualifying, and I think it’ll take them a bit of time to find a way through a stubborn DR Congo side.

Portugal managed 6+ corners in 57% of their qualifying matches, and have also seen 6+ corners in 50% of their friendly matches this year, averaging bang on 6.0 corners per game.

DR Congo will keep things tight in central areas, naturally forcing Portugal to build up through the wide channels, which is ideal when backing them to rack up at least six corners in this clash.

I like taking this angle when I know Vitinha is going to be up against a side sitting quite deep. He’s not a prolific shooter, but he does like to aim from distance when faced by a low block.

Vitinha took 34 shots for PSG during the 25/26 Ligue 1 season (1.44 per 90), 32 of these efforts came from outside of the box. He had a similar record in the Champions League, taking 36 of his 43 efforts from distance and scoring six goals as PSG lifted the trophy.

Seven of his 11 attempts for Portugal during qualifying also came from outside of the box, showing just how often Vitinha likes to take aim from distance when he is given the opportunity. 

He’s going to spend a lot of time around the edge of the box for Portugal so I expect him to aim on a few occasions, with at least one of these attempts finding the target.

Bruno Fernandes enters this tournament having just won Premier League POTY, earned partly due to the 21 assists he registered - breaking the longstanding assist record in a single season in the Premier League, previously held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry. 

Fernandes is just as important to Portugal as he is to Manchester United and should take ownership of most set-piece situations. One dynamic to keep an eye on here and throughout the tournament is Fernandes assisting Ronaldo. The striker may not be at the elite level he once was, but he’s still really effective in the air, and Fernandes has the quality to pick him out. 

He didn’t actually register an assist for Portugal during qualifying, but he really should have with his underlying chance creation numbers. Fernandes set up 21 chances across his five starts during qualifying (4.80 per 90).

Chancel Mbemba is DR Congo’s captain and has a pretty consistent record when it comes to picking up cautions.

DR Congo should play with a back five here with Mbemba acting as one of the three centre backs. He usually plays as the central centre back, which pits him directly against Ronaldo. 

I see Mbemba having to contest quite a few duels against Ronaldo and also Bruno Fernandes at times, which should put him in decent situations to pick up a caution.

Mbemba picked up three yellow cards across just nine starts for Lille during the 25/26 season and also picked up one card across his four appearances at AFCON earlier this year for DR Congo.

Colombia should be quite a fun side to follow during the World Cup, given some of the quality they have in the side. Players like Diaz, Rodriguez, Suarez and Arias should all entertain and give Colombia a decent chance of reaching the knockout stages. 

Uzbekistan are the weakest side in this group on paper and don’t have much experience at all of competing on this stage. I expect it to be quite a learning curve for Uzbekistan, though they are worth keeping an eye on in the coming years with how successful the country has been in the youth tournaments over recent campaigns.

Colombia have scored first in five of their last six international matches, and I expect them to deliver the first blow here against an Uzbekistan side that may find it difficult to even get on the scoresheet.

DR Congo can be stubborn, but I do expect Portugal to eventually break them down and go on to win by a couple of goals.

There's so much quality in this Portugal side, and Ronaldo will also be aware that this is one of his few real chances to add to his World Cup goal tally - which, for a player of his standing, isn't actually that impressive.

Portugal scored 20 goals in six qualifying games (3.33 per game), and they have the firepower to unlock what's expected to be a low block from Congo, thanks to the talented midfield trio of Fernandes, Vitinha and Neves.

DR Congo conceded two goals in their final warm-up against Chile, and recent form suggests their stubbornness can waver against elite opposition; they've shipped 3+ goals in games against Senegal and Morocco within the last year.

I do think England may have to score more than once to win this game. Croatia may be an ageing side, but they do have real threats who can cause the Three Lions problems, having won seven of their eight qualifying matches themselves.

Croatia also have a very consistent record at international tournaments over the last few years. They beat England 2-1 in the 2018 World Cup, with the sides also facing each other in the Nations League over the last few years, with England getting their revenge in those matches.

England have seen 2+ goals in nine of their last 11 matches across all competitions, with the exceptions being friendly matches against Japan and New Zealand.

I’m a bit worried about Ghana in this group, many people have Panama bottom but the African side could really struggle without one of their main stars in Mohammed Kudus. 

Ghana failed to even qualify for AFCON earlier this year, which was a real failure and kind of reflects where the nation is ahead of this World Cup. Panama really struggled the last time they featured at a World Cup, but have improved since then and shown recent signs of promise - including scoring twice against Brazil in a recent friendly.

I don’t think Ghana will sit back here, this is the most winnable game for them of their three group matches - though Panama can definitely carry an attacking threat themselves having scored in each of their last five matches, including against other sides that have reached the World Cup such as Bosnia and South Africa.

Another 36-year-old veteran at the World Cup, Farrukh Sayfiev looks set to start in a left wingback role. Uzbekistan have been handed a tough draw, and this opening fixture against Colombia promises to be a significant test, where they will have lots of defending to do.  

Sayfiev was recently shown a yellow card against Canada in a friendly, finishing the game with two fouls, and he repeated that feat against Netherlands last time out. This time, he was fortunate to escape a booking. Sayfiev started four games for Uzbekistan in their qualifiers, and he committed multiple fouls each of those - he was booked against Iran for racking up four infringements in the first half alone. 

Sayfiev can often lunge recklessly into tackles, and he will likely draw the matchup of Jhon Arias on the flank here, but also Daniel Munoz who often marauds forward - those two will keep him busy.

Anibal Godoy is averaging 1.56 fouls per 90 playing for San Diego FC in the MLS this season, which has translated to five yellow cards. The 36-year-old has plenty of experience, but he can sometimes be a bit rash in his challenges, looking to protect his back line.

He has a very similar job for Panama, operating in a defensive midfield position, and he is expected to play a massive role for them at this World Cup - he started five matches during the qualifiers, helping them to an unbeaten finish. 

From his six appearances overall, Godoy had a notable average of 1.91 fouls per 90, which translated to three bookings. This upcoming matchup against Ghana will be a step up from what he is used to, as the Black Stars are expected to start Antoine Semenyo, Abdul Fatawu and Jordan Ayew.

Luka Vuskovic has had a breakthrough season for Hamburg, which has earned the 19-year-old a call-up to the Croatia first eleven - he is expected to be given the nod to start here in defence against England.

It’s a big game for the youngster, who doesn’t have much experience in this kind of matchup, and he is likely to come up against either Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke if he starts on the left side of a back three. Vuskovic has six yellows in 30 appearances for Hamburg this season, from an average of 1.12 fouls per 90.

Vuskovic has generally seen an uptick in fouls when playing for his national side - he started one game for Croatia in their World Cup qualifying matches, and he committed two fouls against the Faroe Islands.

He then committed at least two fouls in all three of his starts in the warm-up friendlies, where he also picked up a booking against Brazil.

Portugal are heavy favourites coming into this clash, and the current Nations League champions are heavily fancied to top Group K.

However, DR Congo aren’t a side to be underestimated, and they have some serious talent in forward areas - the most notable name being Yoane Wissa. Nathanael Mbuka looks set to start on the left wing, and the Montpellier man is averaging 2.52 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions domestically this season.

He is a tricky winger always looking to beat his man, and Joao Cancelo will have the tough task of trying to contain him out wide. The fullback has started two friendlies since the World Cup qualifiers, and he was carded against the USA despite only playing the first half.

Cancelo has picked up five yellows in 23 appearances across all competitions this season playing for Barcelona.