Uzbekistan's national football team is gearing up for their second group stage match against one of the tournament favorites, Portugal.

The Portuguese side, led by 52-year-old Roberto Martinez, returns to Houston after a 1-1 draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite dominating possession with about 75% and completing 783 passes, they managed only seven shots on goal, with just one on target.

The sole accurate strike resulted in a goal: 21-year-old Joao Neves scored with a header early in the match. However, the statistics highlight a lack of attacking efficiency: Portugal had among the fewest shot attempts in the tournament, with only five of the 48 teams attempting fewer.

For comparison, Spain had 27 shots in their match but also failed to secure a win. Coach Roberto Martinez hopes the team will increase aggression and speed in the final third against Uzbekistan.

This will be Uzbekistan's second match in the tournament; they lost their debut 1-3 to Colombia, showing tense and at times cautious play.

Source: kun.uz