Portugal striker Francisco Conceição aims to rewrite World Cup legacy

Francisco Conceição said he wants to avoid repeating his father Sergio's disappointment at the 2002 World Cup and lead Portugal to a better result against Uzbekistan. He noted the Uzbek side is expected to use a compact five‑man defence and that Portugal must improve after a draw with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Conceição also remarked that, while Cristiano Ronaldo is a world‑class scorer, the team is not obligated to supply him the ball, emphasizing instinctive play and the need to win the upcoming group‑stage match in Houston's NRG Stadium. The 23‑year‑old forward stressed that errors must be minimal and that Portugal must secure victories in its remaining group games.