Portugal open against DR Congo on Wednesday as Nunes declares his loyalty

Opening match set for Wednesday against DR Congo

Your World Cup begins Wednesday. Portugal face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Group H opener on June 17 (3). The team returned to training but there are still question marks for Roberto Martínez, with uncertainties hanging over the squad ahead of the first match (4).

Matheus Nunes: "I owe much more to Portugal than Brazil"

Matheus Nunes made his loyalty clear ahead of the tournament. "In football terms, I owe much more to Portugal than Brazil," he said (1). No hedging, no mixed signals. The midfielder was born in Brazil but chose Portugal and he sounds fully committed heading into the World Cup.

Beach trips are part of the plan

If you saw photos of the squad at the beach and wondered what was going on, Nunes has the answer. "It's part of the work plan for adapting to the climate," he explained (2). The team are preparing for the heat in the United States and the beach sessions are by design, not a day off.

Fan-reaktioner

Fans are in full pre-tournament mode over on r/soccer. One supporter has put together a pronunciation guide for all 26 Portugal players ahead of Wednesday link. The excitement is real and the details matter.