Portugal's Conceicao addresses Ronaldo criticism ahead of Uzbekistan match
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 22, 2026, 3:39 AM
Last updated Jun 22, 2026
Ahead of Portugal's Group K match against Uzbekistan on June 23, Francisco Conceicao defended Cristiano Ronaldo. After Portugal's 1-1 draw with Congo DR on June 17, concerns grew about Ronaldo's performance. Conceicao stated that players should not feel obligated to pass the ball specifically to Ronaldo, emphasizing teamwork and individual instinct in decision-making.
- •Portugal drew 1-1 with Congo DR on June 17
- •Ronaldo is playing in his sixth World Cup at age 41
- •Conceicao urges teammates to focus on team play
- •Next match for Portugal is against Uzbekistan on June 23
- 3:39 AMYahoo Sports — Portugal's Francisco Conceicao shuts down Cristiano Ronaldo narrative
"Nobody at the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup is more eager to put a performance behind them than Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 5:03 AMIs France v Iraq on TV? Channel, kick-off time and how to watch World Cup 2026 match
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 5:00 AMWhere to watch Argentina vs. Austria live stream, TV channel, start time for World Cup Group J match
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 4:55 AMNorway vs Senegal – Predicted lineup and team news
- FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 4:49 AMThis Cape Verde World Cup story is guaranteed to make you smile
FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 4:33 AMSalah scores as Egypt beat New Zealand for first-ever World Cup win- FIFA World Cup•Jun 22, 2026, 4:19 AMBow down to the king: Mo Salah takes center stage at the World Cup
