Portugal v DR Congo: Go big on Bruno with 8/1 Fernandes Bet Builder

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Click here for Portugal v DR Congo odds
Wednesday 17 June, 18:00 kick-off
Live on BBC One
NRG Stadium - Houston, Texas

Group K Betting Guide

I've gone with 9/110.00 shots Portugal to win the World Cup in our pre-tournament predictions and they shouldn't really have many problems getting through a group containing Uzbekistan, Colombia and their opening opponents - the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Roberto Martinez's side are 1/41.25 to get off to a winning start, with DR Congo huge 11/112.00 underdogs as they return to World Cup action for the first time since 1974, when Zaire, as they were known then, lost all three games 14-0 on aggregate.

This time their build-up has been hampered by the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, so it's already been a tough road, which gets even tougher against a Portugal side with just one loss in 13 who've scored in 10 of their last 11 World Cup outings.

Congo have built their success on defence with nine clean sheets in their last 13 games. We've seen already how underdogs can raise their games with the likes of Cape Verde and Qatar getting results, but with Portugal's squad depth you'd expect their quality to tell in the end.

Both teams to score is 13/102.30. It's been a pretty common outcome in this World Cup and Portugal have been hit and miss at the back, but it's too much of a coin toss for me, so I'd rather take the 10/111.91 on a Portugal win and over 2.5 goals.

That covers us in case Congo make another big underdog statement or if Portugal put them away comfortably. Either way we'll still add Congo to have 2+ cards as well to the mix - which they've hit in just eight of 15 games but Portugal have a way of getting under your skin and it's more about that than the Africans being particularly prone to going in the book.

Click here for tips on all today's games in our World Cup day 7 cheat sheet

Go big on Bruno with 8/19.00 Fernandes Bet Builder

For Congo, Yoane Wissa is 4/15.00 to score anytime but he hasn't found the net since January, for Newcastle against PSV, so Cedric Bakambu is likely your best bet at 9/25.50 - with the Real Betis man scoring four times in qualifying.

Bakambu being 1/12.00 for 1+ shot on target looks like the only punt worth having though, as he's hit the target in four of five games - with six in total.

But this is all about Portugal really, and what role Cristiano Ronaldo will play in particular. He's likely to start and he still led the team in qualifying with five goals so he's odds-on here at 4/61.67.

Portugal are laced with talent, but I'll stick with just one player and go with a Bet Builder just based soley on Bruno Fernandes - and back the Premier League Player of the Season to get heavily involved.

He's 8/52.60 for 2+ shots on target after hitting nine in his last seven internationals. He'll have a starring role here and if Congo drop deep then he'll try his luck from distance.

Fernandes is always involved in fouls both ways as well - he's given one away in five of seven and been fouled twice in three of his last four, so he's worth backing in both markets.

The 6/52.20 on Fernandes to be fouled twice could also make a nice single, but we'll use it to bolster our Bruno Bet Builder.

Notable winners on Betting.Betfair so far at the 2026 World Cup...

- Mark Stinchcombe's stunning 38/139.00 Bet Builder in South Korea v Czechia
- Paul Higham's 9/25.50 Bet Builder in Mexico's MD1 defeat of South Africa
- Paul also tipped 13/53.60 (Canada v Bosnia) & 15/82.88 (Brazil v Morocco) draws
- A 6/17.00 winning ACCA for Mark on Sunday at the World Cup
- Andy Robson's 9/110.00 five-leg ACCA as Germany wallop Curacao
- Another 13/53.60 winner for Paul as France beat Senegal with both teams scoring

Now read Alan Shearer and get his England v Croatia prediction