Cristiano Ronaldo has been included in Portugal’s starting roster for Tuesday’s World Cup group stage match against Uzbekistan, moving past concerns regarding his recent lackluster output. The 41-year-old team captain faced criticism after a quiet showing in the 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he recorded a tournament-low of 25 touches. Despite calls from critics for manager Roberto Martinez to bench the veteran, the head coach has kept his faith in the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, even though Ronaldo has now gone 10 major tournament appearances without finding the back of the net. Fans at Houston Stadium showed strong support for the forward during warm-ups. Additionally, Martinez has made tactical changes, inserting Joao Felix in place of Bernardo Silva and confirming Ruben Dias will start in defense.
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