Portugal's World Cup performance in their opening game against DR Congo only confirmed what many Selecao fans feared. It was a display lacking identity, reaction and the leadership required at a tournament of this magnitude.And the uncomfortable truth is this - the biggest issue Portugal face right now is Cristiano Ronaldo.
In truth, escaping with a 1-1 draw - Congo's first ever World Cup point - may have been the better outcome, as it could easily have been worse. Even so, a national team of Portugal's stature cannot afford to take these games for granted.They cannot simply assume the opposition are beaten before a ball is kicked, and this match exposed their inability to read what was unfolding on the pitch and their lack of in‑game awareness. For me, the questions began the moment Roberto Martinez named his squad: an unusually high number of goalkeepers, an obvious imbalance between full‑backs and centre‑backs, and the absence of players with specific profiles needed to decide key moments.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo's sister makes Bruno Fernandes stance clear after Portugal frustration
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo dubbed a 'problem' for Portugal camp - 'It's a horrible place to be'
