Neves helps Portugal to winning World Cup start

Ruben Neves helped Portugal to a winning start in their World Cup campaign out in Qatar on Thursday.

The Wolves skipper started and played 77 minutes as Portugal beat Ghana 3-2 tie in Group H, which Neves’ country now lead, after Uruguay and South Korea drew.

On the bench sat Jose Sa and Matheus Nunes, and they’ll hope for their World Cup debuts when Portugal face Uruguay on Monday or South Korea on Friday.

Elsewhere, Raul Jimenez appeared at his third World Cup, coming off the bench in the Mexicans’ draw with Poland on Tuesday.

The striker featured for the final 19 minutes of the goalless draw, which saw Guillermo Ochoa save Robert Lewandowski’s penalty to earn a point for Mexico.

The 31-year-old will hope to add to his four World Cup appearances when Mexico face Argentina on Saturday and Saudi Arabia next Wednesday.

A minor injury denied Hee Chan Hwang the chance of adding to his three World Cup outings on Thursday, as he watched on from the bench while South Korea drew 0-0 with Uruguay.

Clashes with Ghana on Monday and Portugal next Friday await South Korea and Hwang will hope to feature in both.

The remaining World Cup group games involving members of Julen Lopetegui’s squad are as follows:

Portugal | Sa, Neves & Nunes

  • Portugal vs Uruguay | Monday 28th November, 7pm
  • South Korea vs Portugal | Friday 2nd December, 3pm

Mexico | Jimenez

  • Argentina vs Mexico | Saturday 26th November, 7pm
  • Saudi Arabia vs Mexico | Wednesday 30th November, 7pm

South Korea | Hwang

  • South Korea vs Ghana | Monday 28th November, 1pm
  • South Korea vs Portugal | Friday 2nd December, 3pm
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