Rúben Dias Conducts Individual Training Before Portugal's World Cup Debut

Rúben Dias, Manchester City's central defender, completed an individual training session on the eve of Portugal's World Cup campaign opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo on June 16, 2026. The player acknowledged that his absence from the match could have impacted the team's performance but stressed that it should not serve as an excuse for a poor result. Dias' individual session came as Portugal prepared for the start of their knockout-stage campaign in the tournament. While the defender's unavailability was a notable absence for the Portuguese squad, Dias emphasized the importance of the team taking responsibility for their performance regardless of personnel constraints. The opening fixture marked a critical moment for Portugal as they began their pursuit of World Cup advancement.