“We will get better,” João Félix assures

João Félix expressed his disappointment following Portugal's 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening World Cup match. The Portuguese international, who remained on the bench in Houston, told Livemode that their strong start wasn't sustained: "We started well, really pressing them. For the first three minutes, Congo barely touched the ball. We scored, and from then on, we slowed down a bit. We kept possession, but it was mostly in midfield, which is a risk."

"In the second half, we made adjustments, getting more players into the box, which is crucial in these types of games," he emphasized. Despite the draw, Félix outlined the plan for Tuesday's clash against Uzbekistan: "We need to improve, analyze what we didn't do well, and try to react. We will get better."

The 26-year-old international later acknowledged DR Congo's effort: "The first game is always tough. They are playing for their country. If it's a dream for us, it's even more so for them. Congo and Uzbekistan are not easy opponents."