1 hour ago
2
Portugal have a Neves problem. Not a bad one, just a logistical one: they have two of them, both good, and only so many starting spots.
For their final Group K match against Colombia on June 27, 2026, coach Roberto Martínez has opted to start Rúben Neves over João Neves, a rotation that tells you something about where Portugal are in this tournament and what they want from this game.
The Neves switcheroo, explained
João Neves, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, has been one of Portugal’s more dynamic contributors through the group stage. He scored a crucial header in Portugal’s match against DR Congo.
Rúben Neves, 29, is the elder statesman of the two. He has 67 senior caps for Portugal and plays his club football at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, where his role is more organising and less bursting-through-lines. As a defensive midfielder, he offers Martínez something different: structure, experience, and a quieter kind of authority in the middle of the park.
Portugal have already secured their progression to the knockout stages, which means this match carries positioning stakes rather than survival ones. Martínez can afford to rotate, and rotating João Neves out while bringing Rúben Neves in is the kind of decision a manager makes when he wants to manage minutes and keep his squad fresh heading into the business end of the tournament.
The shirt, the weight behind it
There is a layer to this match that goes beyond tactics. Rúben Neves has been wearing the No. 21 shirt for Portugal, the number that belonged to Diogo Jota. Jota, who died in a car accident in June 2025, was one of Portugal’s most beloved players.
When Rúben Neves takes the field against Colombia, that shirt means something beyond the name on the back.
Portugal’s midfield depth is almost unfair
Beyond the two Neveses, Portugal’s central midfield options include Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, and Bernardo Silva. That is four or five players who would walk into most international starting elevens, competing for three spots.
Vitinha, like João Neves, is a product of the modern Portuguese football system, quick in transition and comfortable in tight spaces. Bruno Fernandes brings goalscoring threat and creative range. Bernardo Silva is arguably the most technically complete Portuguese player of his generation.
Portugal have secured their advancement from Group K, which means the Colombia match is less about survival and more about momentum. Finishing first in the group versus finishing second carries meaningful implications for the knockout bracket, so the result still matters, even if the stakes feel lower than a must-win scenario.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
English (US) · 