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John Healey resigns as defence secretary in disagreement with Starmer over spending – UK politics live | Politics

Published

6 days ago

June 11, 2026

info@oxinfo.co.uk

Healey criticises Reeves for being ‘unwilling’ to fund defence by enough, and Starmer for being too weak to over-rule her

Here is one of the key extracts from the letter.

This new era for defence required further investment through the defence investment plan. The excellent and extensive cross-government work that completed in January – overseen by you, me and the chancellor – confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.

Since then, you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.

This is a double hatchet job. John Healey is criticising Rachel Reeves for being too stubborn to increase defence spending by the amount he wants, and Keir Starmer for being too weak to over-rule her.

Key events

Defence minister Al Carns says defence investment plan ‘not fit for purpose’, as he praises Healey’s ‘serious service’

Al Carns, the former Royal Marine who only became an MP in 2024, who was immediately appointed a defence minister and who has even hinted that he would like to stand for the Labour leadership soon, has issued a statement on social media praising his former boss. Here is an extract.

John Healey has given this country serious service in a serious time.

He took on the Ministry of Defence at a moment when the world was getting more dangerous, not less, and he carried that weight with the discipline and decency that the job demands.

I worked alongside him closely. I saw the hours, the care, and the seriousness he brought to every brief, including the hardest ones. There are issues facing this Department that do not lend themselves to easy answers. The work on funding, on veterans, on Legacy, on the welfare of those who serve.

As Pippa says (see 2.14pm), Keir Starmer will need appoint a new defence secretary soon. (There are some cabinet jobs you can leave empty for a bit, but the defence post is not one of them.) Carns himself could be a candidate to replace him. (Luke Pollard, the well-regarded minister of state at the Ministry of Defence, is senior to Carns in the MoD pecking order, but Carns had a stellar career in the armed forces and his appointment would be well received.) But Carns has told Times Radio today that the defence investment plan is “not fit for purpose”, implying he would not take the job unless Rachel Reeves were to agree to a significant rethink.

Pippa Crerar on what Healey’s resignation means for Starmer

Here is a snap analysis of John Healey’s resignation by Pippa Crerar, the Guardian’s political editor.

John Healey’s departure puts Keir Starmer in an even more difficult position than he was already.

The former defence sec’s charge that he is putting UK’s security at risk is a devastating one – which will worry Labour MPs & cut through with voters. The fact Tories underfunded defence for years won’t wash.

It further weakens Starmer in that this was supposed to be his strong point – and has repeatedly said that keeping nation safe is his number one priority.

Cabinet relations have been badly damaged by the protracted row over plan – with the standoff leading to some of worst infighting since Labour took power over cuts to other department’s capital budgets.

International allies will notice Healey’s resignation – and reasons why. PM is meeting G7 allies in France next week & is in Ankara for a Nato summit in early July. Awkward timing.

Starmer may also struggle to appoint a credible new defence secretary – for all the ambitious MPs out there – who will be prepared to make case for this plan now?

It also impacts Reeves, who blocked extra spending, and leaves her open to charge of leaving nation unsafe. She faces impossible choices over spending – but many will feel defence should have been priority.

It all makes Starmer’s departure – already looking likely – feel inevitable. While his allies say he’ll fight any challenge from Andy Burnham if he wins Makerfield – he’s just lost one of his most senior cabinet ministers. When the herd moves, and all that.

Unite’s leader Sharon Graham says Healey’s resignation shows work on defence investment plan has been ‘utter chaos’

Higher defence spending is normally a cause championed by people on the right in politics. But one of the leading voices calling for the publication of an ambitious defence investment plan (DIP) has been Unite, the union led by the leftwing Sharon Graham. Unite has a lot of members working in the defence sector, and Unite has been campaigning for a settlement that will secure jobs.

Commenting on Healey’s resignation, Graham said:

What is going on in regard to yet another delay on the DIP is fast becoming a national disgrace. Make no mistake jobs and skills are at risk.

John Healey’s resignation letter has laid bare the utter chaos at the heart of government on this issue. Defending the UK and investing in our defence industry simply can’t be done on the cheap. British defence needs investment. Failure to protect UK defence jobs would be a national betrayal.

Healey’s resignation ‘utterly damning’ for Starmer, says SNP

The SNP says John Healey’s resignation is “utterly damning” for Keir Stamer. In a statement, Dave Doogan, the SNP leader at Westminster, said:

Keir Starmer is putting Scotland’s safety at risk by failing to deliver the vital defence investment that is needed in the face of growing international threats.

The resignation of the UK defence secretary, at a time of global crisis, is utterly damning for the prime minister – and it will be the final nail in his sorry time in office.

Yet again, the Labour government is in chaos – and it is putting Scotland and the UK’s defence in jeopardy at the worst possible time.

Badenoch claims Healey’s resignation shows Starmer’s premiership ‘falling apart’

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has said that the resignation of John Healey shows Keir Starmer’s premiership “is falling apart”.

Speaking to reporters, she said:

His health secretary resigned two weeks ago. His defence secretary has resigned at a critical time when we are facing global threats, and he is doing so because the prime minister is trying to please his backbenchers by putting money into welfare instead of defence.

We need to start funding defence. We need to get to 3% of GDP by the end of this parliament …

Keir Starmer has no plan whatsoever. I don’t see how he can stay in this job. He can’t run the country. He is paralysed because his backbenchers only want to spend money on welfare.

(All oppositions need a simple attack line to use against the government and at the moment Badencoch is running hard with the line that Labour won’t spend money on X, or cut taxes for Y, because its MPs just want to spend more money on benefits. This makes for compelling rhetoric, and because benefit spending is rising fast in some areas it has enough truth in it to make it arguable. But, as an overall explanation for what is happening with spending, it is almost wholly wrong. See here for more on this, or here.)

John Healey is getting a lot of praise from MPs on social media – at least, from Tory MPs.

Here are some examples.

From James Cleverly, the former foreign secretary

I have always respected John Healey.

He clearly takes defence of the realm and defence of our interests more seriously than either Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves.

From Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister

The first duty of government is defence of the Realm. @JohnHealey_MP ’s principled resignation states clearly this administration has failed.

I’ve criticised every party for the state we’re in but the truth is now clear: the complacent confidence in peace is over. We must rearm.

From Ben Obese-Jecty, a former soldier

This is a hugely principled stance from John Healey.

The chaos around the Defence Investment Plan and no agreement on how we defend the nation has caused the Secretary of State to resign. Keir Starmer’s position as Prime Minister must now be untenable

From Andrew Bowie, the shadow Scottish secretary

John Healey is an honourable man, well respected and held in high regard across the House and in the Defence community.

He has done the only thing possible given the state of the Defence Investment Plan.

All credit to him.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, has said that John Healey’s resignation should be a wake-up call for the government. He said:

Healey’s resignation is a wake-up call for Starmer and Burnham.

Stop repeating the mistakes of the Conservatives and get serious about funding our armed forces properly.

We cannot afford years more political chaos while our national security is put at risk.

And these are from Emily Maitlis, one of the hosts of the News Agents podcast, on Healey’s resignation.

BREAKING: John Healey I have been told that John Healey only got the full offer on Monday afternoon – No 10 tried to rush and publish the Defence investment Plan on Thursday. Healey was clear that rushing through the plan was too risky for defence and personnel, as the plan needed to be properly finalised and was too important. Chiefs said that £13.5B – which was only £10b real cash, the rest being treasury trickery – would not end hollowing out and would delay key transformation

I understand that John Healey had agreed the Strategic Defence Review on the basis it MIGHT NEED TO BE ACCELERATED if things changed. NATO as we know has said we have to be ready for conflict by 2030 – meawhile Russian aggression is at record highs, wars on two continents etc. The PM recognised this in Munich. But the deal the PM offered didnt even put a date on 3%.

This is from Deborah Haynes, defence and security editor at Sky News, on John Healey’s resignation.

BREAKING: The Treasury only offered the Ministry of Defence an extra £10bn in real cash for its investment plan over four years – the actual settlement was an additional £13.5bn but £3.5bn of that was regarded by military chiefs as treasury trickery. John Healey told the Prime Minister the promised funding was not enough to keep the UK safe.

Healey says he would have to take decisions that could make UK ‘less safe’ if he accepted PM’s defence plans

Here is a summary of all the points in John Healey’s resignation letter.

He criticised Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, for being unwilling to give defence more, and Keir Starmer for being unwilling to over-rule her. (See 12.30pm.)

He said he was resigning because he did not think defence was getting enough and, under these plans, he would have to take decisions that could make Britain “less safe”. He said:

You know what defence needs. You made the argument for this powerfully in your speech at the Munich Security Conference back in February. Without a DIP that meets the moment in this way, I am being forced to make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations, and could make the country less safe.

After explaining to you that I would not be able to accept a DIP settlement that does not give our forces the resources they need, I am now left with no other option than to submit my resignation as your defence secretary.

He reminded Starmer that, in a speech last week, Starmer said: “It is our intelligence assessment, and the assessment of other countries in Nato, that there could be an attack by Russia on Nato as soon as 2030.”

I am proud of what we have done in less than two years as a Labour government. We’ve stepped up to lead internationally for Ukraine with the coalition of the willing and Ukraine Defence Contact Group, established Britain as a leading voice for Europe in NATO, raised defence investment to 2.5% of GDP three years earlier than anyone expected, launched the deepest defence reforms in 50 years, won the biggest UK defence export deals for decades, published a first-of-its-kind Strategic Defence Review, gave our Armed Forces the biggest pay rise in nearly 20 years, boosted military morale, fixed over 1,200 of the worst forces family homes, reset relations with European allies and signed major defence agreements with Germany, Norway and France.

You have led this as PM, earning wide respect at home and abroad. Like me, I know you are exceptionally proud of our Forces and all of those who work in UK defence.

I wish you all continuing strength in the exceptional challenges you face as prime minister. As always, our Labour government will continue to have my fullest support.

This was the only reference in the letter to the leadership challenge that Starmer if facing after next week’s Makerfield byelection. Healey’s resignation is likely to be seen as evidence that Starmer’s authority as PM is weakening. But there is no evidence that Healey would get a better defence settlement under Andy Burnham, or any other of the potential replacement leaders, and Healey’s resignation does not particularly help any of Starmer’s rivals.

Andy Burnham’s campaign has released a statement saying that when he spoke about “some recompense” for the Waspi women (see 11.50am), he was not talking about financial compensation. As the Times reports, a Burnham spokesperson issued a statement this morning saying:

Andy has always recognised the unfair way in which state pension equalisation was introduced.

As mayor of Greater Manchester, he supported Waspi women in the city-region with early access to concessionary travel, providing some recompense to them within affordability limits.

He accepts the final decision has been made in relation to financial compensation but has indicated an openness to considering similar schemes on the Greater Manchester model.

Healey says defence spending only set to rise to 2.68% of GDP by 2030 under proposed defence investment plan

Here is the key passage in the letter. In it, John Healey says the version of the long-awaited defence investment plan that he saw on Monday this week would see defence spending rise to just 2.68% of GDP by 2030.

He says:

We came into government, recognising Britain faced a new era of threat which demanded a new era for defence. The SDR [strategic defence review] we jointly commissioned set the 10-year vision to transform our armed forces, strengthen alliances, invest in the technology that is changing warfare and back British industry to make defence an engine for growth.

This new era for defence required further investment through the defence investment plan. The excellent and extensive cross-government work that completed in January – overseen by you, me and the chancellor – confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.

Since then, you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.

Since then, the demands on defence have increased still further, as have the UK commitments you have rightly made to allies. Conflict in the Middle East, with the UK now leading the multinational Strait of Hormuz military mission; High North security, with the UK now leading Nato’s Arctic Sentry mission; increased Russian activity towards the UK and Nato nations and increased attacks in Ukraine, with the Paris agreement confirming a British deployment to Ukraine after a ceasefire.

We have worked to secure a defence investment plan that does two things. First, deal with the increasing operational demands on defence now and step up the SDR actions to meet the increasing threat. Second, set a clear path to meet the new Nato commitment you agreed to spend 3.5% of GDP in 2035 through the next spending review.

As we have regularly discussed, I am certain that a headmark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set. This commitment would have strong cross-party support. Other European allies are stepping up in this way.

I know how hard you have worked to get to this point. And in funding the DIP, I fully recognise the strain this places on colleagues in other departments, both now as you have required spending switched into defence and in the future. I am very grateful to those colleagues who have supported this, and I appreciate how difficult their choices will have been.

As I’ve outlined to you, there are credible ways of meeting the mid-term funding challenges, working multi-nationally and as other European nations are doing, to allow us to protect our ability to deliver the missions of our Labour government.

However, your DIP financial settlement – which I was first given in full on Monday afternoon this week – falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time. The extra support is backloaded when the pressure of operations and imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years and it rises to just 2.68% of GDP in 2030, when we will reach 2.6% next year with the investment we are already making.

The government still has not published the final DIP. At the weekend there were reports it might come today, and then there were reports that it might come tomorrow. In the Commons yesterday Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, said that an announcement like that on a day when the Commons was not sitting would be “an utter disgrace and an utter kick in the face” to MPs. Ministers subsequently made it clear the DIP would not be published tomorrow.

Healey says spending increase in defence investment plan ‘falls well short of what is required’

Healey says the version of the defence investment plan (DIP) he was shown on Monday “falls well short” of what is required. He says:

However, your DIP financial settlement – which I was first given in full on Monday afternoon this week – falls well short of what is required for defence and the country at this dangerous time.

The extra support is backloaded when the pressure of operations and imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years and it rises to just 2.68% of GDP in 2030, when we will reach 2.6% next year with the investment we are already making.

Healey criticises Reeves for being ‘unwilling’ to fund defence by enough, and Starmer for being too weak to over-rule her

Here is one of the key extracts from the letter.

This new era for defence required further investment through the defence investment plan. The excellent and extensive cross-government work that completed in January – overseen by you, me and the chancellor – confirmed the scale of the challenge and the rising demands on defence.

Since then, you have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.

Here is John Healey’s resignation letter.

Healey’s resignation letter – page 1 Photograph: John Healey

Healey’s resignation letter – page 2 Photograph: John Healey

John Healey has resigned as defence secretary over Treasury refusing to give defence investment he says it needs

Reuters has snapped this.

HEALEY TO STARMER: YOU HAVE BEEN UNABLE, AND THE TREASURY HAS BEEN UNWILLING, TO COMMIT THE RESOURCES THAT THE NATION NEEDS TO DEFEND THE COUNTRY AT THIS TIME OF RISING THREATS

Irish and UK governments, and NI’s executive, agree to work together to ‘prevent abuse’ of common travel area

The UK and Irish governments and the Northern Ireland executive have discussed protecting the common travel area and stronger enforcement to “prevent abuse”, the Irish government has confirmed.

Northern Ireland secretary Hilary Benn, Irish justice minister Jim O’Callaghan and Stormont’s justice minister Naomi Long spoke by phone on Wednesday.

Today in a statement the Irish government’s Department of Justice said:

The invisible border on the island of Ireland is among the most tangible gains of the peace process and is essential to the continuing normalisation of relationships.

Minister O’Callaghan discussed the importance of cross border cooperation in protecting the common travel area [CTA] for both Ireland and the UK yesterday by phone with the Northern Ireland minister for Justice, Naomi Long and the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn.

They discussed stronger co-operation and enforcement to prevent abuse of the common travel area.

Minister O’Callaghan emphasised that significant Border Management Unit doorstop operations now take place at Dublin airport. The number of people landing without documentation has reduced significantly since 2023.

Northern Ireland minister for justice Naomi Long and secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, agreed to work with Minister O’Callaghan to prevent abuse of the CTA.

The rioting in Belfast has been triggered by a brutal knife attack that happened on Monday night. The suspect is a Sudanese national who arrived in Belfast from Dublin, taking advantage of the CTA to cross the border without being stopped. He applied for asylum and was granted leave to remain three years ago. The stabbing has prompted claims that the CTA leaves a “loophole” in border controls that is being exploited by asylum seekers.

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Derek McInnes: Rangers appoint Hearts head coach as manager after Danny Rohl joins Red Bull Salzburg

Published

22 minutes ago

June 17, 2026

info@oxinfo.co.uk

Rangers have appointed Derek McInnes as manager on a three-year contract after agreeing a compensation deal with Scottish Premiership rivals Hearts.

McInnes is the third boss at Ibrox inside a year and replaces Danny Rohl, whose move to Austrian side RB Salzburg was confirmed earlier on Wednesday.

The 54-year-old joined Hearts from Kilmarnock last summer and led the Tynecastle club to a second-placed finish, missing out on the title to Celtic on a dramatic final day, but edging Rangers out of the Champions League qualifiers.

The former Rangers midfielder turned down an approach from the Ibrox club in December 2017 in order to stay at Aberdeen but has now followed Tynecastle captain Lawrence Shankland in moving from Hearts.

“It is a real honour,” McInnes said. “The demands here are clear and our supporters rightfully have high expectations. It is up to me, my staff and my players to meet those expectations, and have this club performing as it should.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead, but already the preparations have begun and I am looking forward to meeting the current squad in the coming weeks and welcoming some new faces.”

Alan Archibald, Paul Sheerin and Craig Clark will assist McInnes.

While Rohl was head coach, McInnes will have the title of manager and was the frontrunner as soon as it emerged that the German was keen to leave for Salzburg.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh said the Scot is “someone we have always rated highly” and is “exactly what this club needs at this moment in time”.

He added: “His deep Scottish and Rangers experience are important for us. He knows how to win in this league, and he is coming off an extremely strong season with Hearts.”

Rohl, 37, replaced Russell Martin as head coach in October and steered Rangers into a three-way title fight, but a post-split collapse yielded a third-placed finish behind Celtic and Hearts as the Ibrox club ended the campaign without silverware.

Cavenagh – who publicly backed Rohl at the end of the season – thanked him for his “service and commitment to Rangers”.

“He and his staff put in a significant amount of hard work during his time in charge, which we are greatly appreciative of,” he added.

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Portugal v DR Congo: World Cup 2026 – live | World Cup 2026

Published

1 hour ago

June 17, 2026

info@oxinfo.co.uk

Key events

Also going on:

HALF-TIME: Portugal 1-1 DR Congo

The goal was the final touch of the half, and I’m sure it happened exactly as Congo planned, the second movements after the ball goes short giving them the overload; there followed perfection, and do we got ourselves a ball-game? We got ourselves a ball-game!

GOOOOAAALLL! Portugal 1-1 DR Congo (Wissa 45+5)

OY MY DAAAAAAAAYS! Fifty-two years after their last World Cup appearance, DRC have a goal! The corner goes short to Masuaku, Congo have an overload at the back post, and the ball in picks out Wissa, left alone, who leaps to punish a header past Diogo Costa! Celebrations are glorious, feelings of love and joy zooming around the world, and what a moment this is, exactly why we’re here and one that’ll live forever!

DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa rises highest and powers a head goalwards. Photograph: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images/Reuters

45+5 min Mbemba twisted his ankle winning the corner off Fernandes, so takes treatment, then we’re good to go again.

45+3 min Masuaku inside into Bakambi, who sends him away down the line, then he cuts back to Moutoussamy on the edge. This time, he tries a curler and again, he hits a man close by, this time a defender, and the ball loops behind. The corner yields another.

45+1 min We’ll have four additional minutes.

45 min In space, 25 yards out, Moutoussamy takes a pass from Mukau and decides to shoot after looking like he’s seeking any other alternative, ramming his effort into Wissa.

44 min “Quite right, returns Charles Antaki, who knows how to get himself published. “Portugal’s strip hasn’t been anything like us distinctive or pleasing since they changed from the old bulls-blood dark red shirt (as on their flag) to the dull high-street red indistinguishable from anybody else’s. Yes, I know that it probably sells better. Bah.”

42 min Portugal continue moving the ball but they’ve not created loads other than the goal. There’s a confidence about them, though – I don’t want to keep comparing them to Spain, but it’s our best reference point, and they’re playing with a lot more confidence and conviction.

40 min “I noticed today’s hydration break is instead labelled as a ‘match break’, says Justin Madson who, if I remember correctly, is in the US. “Seems the suits got tired of lying about the reason for the break.”

Or its deployment in matchers such as this one, where there’s no need, could not longer be defended.

38 min Bruno tosses another pass over the top for Mendes, who breaks into the box … then can’t find a pass. Those lofted passes for runners attacking the space are working really well for Portugal; without proper wingers, Spain wouldn’t do that against Cape Verde, though of course that’s not just because Lamine and Williams didn’t play but because De La Fuente picked Gave and Ferran to replace them when he might’ve tried Pino.

35 min “I don’t remember Ronaldo getting up to much in Euro 2016 other than being his usual petulant self,” says Fedor Tot. “He scored just three goals, and people forget that Portugal scraped through their group as one of the best third-placed teams, having drawn all three of their games. They won just once in normal time (Wales in the semis). His one good performance was in the final group game against Hungary, where his two goals admittedly rescued them to a 3-3 draw and got them through. In a ‘proper’ tournament without the best 3rd-placed nonsense they’d never have won!”

Oh I agree they weren’t a great team but, as you say, Ronaldo dragged them through that Hungary game and also scored the first against Wales in the semi. Nothing we’d seen of the team suggested not having him for the majority of the final was a good thing

33 min Kapaudi finds Kayembe, who takes the ball nicely, at inside-left, advances, and shoots … but the effort is deflected, off Veiga I think, and Diogo Costa catches easily enough.

32 min Mbemba jumps into Neto, elbow up but tight to his body, then yanks his shirt on the way down. He’s booked, a decision that seems harsh to me, then Mendes’ free-kick is kicked clear.

Portugal’s Pedro Neto reacts after being fouled by DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

30 min Nice feet from Wan-Bissaka – do not adjust your sets, that is not a misprint – and he finds Wissa infield. From there, the ball goes wide, but Bakambu’s cross is headed away.

30 min And again, they try another low cross, this time through Cancelo on the right, a little deeper … but the ball has just too much on it for Ronaldo.

28 min We’re off again and Veiga flips a tasty pass over the top and down the line for Neto, who screeches forward and looks to find Ronaldo with a low cross … but a defender knocks it behind. Threcorner comes to nothing, and Portugal build again.

26 min It’s been pretty easy for Portugal so far – they’re being allowed to knock it about – but they’re so good at that, and if DRC press them, they leave space in behind. Really, the problem is the goal they conceded – they let Portugal have it for free, and know if they concede another, it’s over.

24 min We’re playing in a roofed, airconned stadium; it’s time for a hydration break.

Time to get swilling that Powerade. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Getty Images

22 min Portugal, er, “possess the football”.

20 min I wonder if, assuming they make the knockouts, Martinez has any plans to play bernardo a little deeper. At the moment, he’s off the right, but it’d be hard for any team to avoid being dominated by a trio of him, Vitinha and Neves. I also think Portugal have full-backs on whom they can rely for width, so a 4-3-1-2, with Bruno in the one and Neto alongside bruno in the two, feels like me to be their best big-game setup.

18 min The first flash of Bruno a lofted pass, with curl, into the path of Mendes, who bursts into the box between two defenders and, just as he’s about to shoot, Wan-Bisska wan-bissakas him, sliding in to heel the ball away. It hits the keeper’s chest, bounces out, and Buno picks up possession, dragging a shot wide of the far post.

16 min “Instant favourite football kit of this World Cup,” says Charles Antaki. “I don’t think many African teams wear light blue; probably because it’s not a popular colour in African flags. Anyway DRC have found a colour that seems to shine out in the gloom, with a pleasing flames-type design when you see it in close-up. Portugal a bit boring in all red. On the other hand, they are winning the game.”

It’s a little strange, actually – I’d expect Portugal’s shorts to be green, and the shade of red is much pinkier and less deep than usual, one you might think works better as an item of clothing, but doesn’t do it for me in the context of a football jersey.

14 min Better again from DRC, Bakamubu swerving around Mendes and Veiga, with men free, but he opts to shoot from 22 yards, the ball flying off Araujo and behind … for a corner that comes to nowt. I like what I’ve seen from the underdogs since they went behind.

13 min Bernardo launches himself into a challenge on Kayembe, of Watford, introduces studs to achilles, and he’s booked. Roonaldo points out that it’s his first offence, and it is: his first yellow-card offence.

11 min DRC’s first attack, Wan-Bissaka advancing down the right and the ball moving infield, Bakambu’s shot blocked before Wissa fires just wide with his left foot.

11 min “I believe you’re quite right about Ronaldo being a liability and Messi still an inspiration – and not only because Messi has always been a player of a higher class,” writes Geoff Wignall. “My many years of living in Portugal included the Euros triumph. From the admittedly small sample of a crowded local bar in which I was the lone estranjeiro, at least half the assembly felt Portugal’s chances improved once Ronaldo went off injured. This was in real time, not in retrospect: many comments about how, “now they can play as a team” – and he was much younger then. The reaction might also have been influenced of course by the number of Portuguese who can’t stand the bloke, notwithstanding the media narrative.”

Yeah, that’s definitely personal, because Ronaldo dragged them to that final more or less by himself. I seem to recall that when he went down, I contacted my local turf accountant for a price in France, which went well for me.

9 min I doubt DRC change their tactics now they’re behind – they’d take 1-0 after 70 minutes, I’m sure, and given goal difference is likely to decide which of the third-placed teams go through, there’s a lot to be said for a narrow defeat against one of the best sides in the competition.

GOAL! Portugal 1-0 DR Congo (Neves 6)

Neto tosses in a cross from left and, not for the first time, Neves is up, to glance a terrific header across Mpasi and into the far side-netting. DRC will wonder how, when they’ve got five defenders, a diminutive midfielder was able to score like that, but you can be good in the air without being tall, and he is.

Portugal’s Joao Neves scores their first goal with a header. Photograph: Annegret Hilse/Reuters

Neves (left) celebrates. Photograph: Miguel A Lopes/EPA

6 min So far, the pattern of this game is similar to Spain v Cape Verde, attack against defence. But there’s more ingenuity about the way Portugal move – the ball and off it – Cancelo’s low cross whizzing across the face of goal, no one close enough to tap or slide it in.

5 min Portugal eschew an opportunity to put a ball into the box to keep passing – which I get, but I imagine Ronaldo fancies early service, and backs himself to win aerial challenges.

3 min Ronaldo takes his first touch and the buzz in the crowd is palpable. On which point, Mary Waltz emails in: “I am a massive Messi fan. But this need to pick one of them and rip the other is silly. Yes, the humble little guy Messi is easier to relate to than the at times arrogant Adonis but as far as football talent goes it is a 50/50 coin flip.

As blokes, I wouldn’t say I relate to either of them, though guess I “prefer” Messi; as players, I disagree. Obviously I think Ronaldo is incredible and the best player I’ve seen at my own club, but in the pantheon, I don’t think it’s close – Messi is miles ahead, “for me”.

2 min DRC are indeed fielding a back five, but it’s noticeable that, when Portgual have the ball in their own half, they’re stepping up quickly as a unit.

1 min Portugal kick-off and don’t go for touch as per the current vogue, instead keeping possession. They’re so out, dudes.

Righto, our teams huddle and we’re good to go.

The DRC players give their anthem plenty, and what a moment this is for the Congolese and their on-pitch representatives. Club football runs the world, but international tournaments agitate emotions in a way that’s completely different.

Anthem time – and, though we’ve been deprived of Il Canto degli Italiani, I’m a big fan of Portugal’s.

“When Messi scored a tap-in after a goalkeeping howler last night, the co-commentator called him a genius,” says Niall Mullen. “It’s early doors to hit the hyperbole so hard but I am interested to see if it escalates. Perhaps tonight Ronaldo will be declared a singular legend for winning a corner?”

In fairness, Messi is a genius and Ronaldo is a legend. I actually enjoyed that tap-in finish too, first because, after all these years, Messi was still the one alive to the potential for a fumble, and also because the finish, though simple, was still perfection, the angle at which he rolled it in making it impossible for the keeper to recover.

…and here they come!

Our teams are tunnelled…

Yoane Wissa is a player with plenty to prove in this competition. If we’re honest, he was something of a panic-buy, Newcastle under pressure to find someone who’d come to them and landing on him. But he won’t have expected to play as little as he did and presumably needs to find a new club, so could really do with excelling. And if there’s a weakness in this Portugal side, it’s at the back so, while he might not get much of the ball, when DRC get it forward, he’s a chance.

Learn more about Lumumba here; the film, Soundtrack to a Coup d’État – nominated for an Oscar in 2025 – is also worth your time.

I like DRC’s training tops. More news as I get it.

Photograph: Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images

I’m looking forward to seeing Lumumba Vea in situ. His tribute to Patrick Lumumba, Congo’s first prime minister until his assassination, reminds us of the social and political struggles the country has had through on fault of its own. He is what the World Cup is all about.

I enjoyed Jacob Steinberg’s piece on Thomas Tuchel. Jacob covered him at Chelsea too, so knows and has observed him; I bet I’m not the only person to put TC Boyle’s Water Music on their wishlist.

“You wrote ‘Cristiano Ronaldo, his inability to press making it almost impossible to play a modern style’”, says Alex. “I wonder how the reigning world champions were capable of it despite being led by a man who hasn’t defended at all for more than a decade? Why is this narrative so much more emphasised with Ronaldo than so many other players who offer nothing defensively?”

Argentina had Rodrigo De Paul doing Lionel Messi’s running – I’m not sure Portugal have anyone able to do a similar job. It’s also the case that Messi offers more than just the final touch, which Ronaldo doesn’t really, and that without him, Argentina wouldn’t have got close to winning the last tournament, whereas I think Portugal would be better without Ronaldo because the rest of their attack is so good. Finally, I think the eye test confirms that – I watch Portugal frustrated they don’t have a more mobile man up front; watching Argentina, I don’t feel that way.

Email! “Let’s not forget that Cristiano Ronaldo, in an alternative World Cup not driven by profit, would be serving a three-game ban now for violent behaviour,” remembers Justin Kavanagh. “But Infantino has learned to honour the time-traditions of the host country, where laws are just for little people, inapplicable to the rich.”

Yup, as the story below illustrates. I guess in the context of the competition, the decision to let Ronaldo off has been largely ignored because there’s so much worse going on, but it is a stain on the competition’s sporting integrity.

Great news!

In the context, obviously.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how Axel Tuanzebe does in this one. As a teenager, he was viewed as a blue-chip prospect, and his performance when Manchester United won away to PSG in 2020 was magnificent. But injuries took their toll and things haven’t quite worked out for him since, but it was his goal that took DRC here and I’m expecting a decent performance from him because his top level is a good level.

I’m glad Portugal have played a proper winger, not Félix, who now looks destined not to fulfil the potential he had at 19, when Atlético Madrid paid £113m for him. Neto has pace, the ability to go both ways, and offers more out of possession than Leão, so the selection makes sense, another quick player to offset Ronaldo’s lack of speed.

DRC, meanwhile, move to a five at the back. I’m a little surprised Noah Sadiki has left out, but the three picked ahead of him have earned their spots.

Taking a closer look at the Portugal team, Dias is absent injured, but it’s perhaps a little surprising to see Gonçalo Inácio, whose passing has been so important, left out. Otherwise, the XI is pretty much as expected – the only choice Martínez had to make was who to pick in the left-wing berth, and he’s gone for Pedro Neto, not João Félix or Rafael Leão.

Teams!

Portugal (4-2-3-1): Diogo Costa; Cancelo, Araújo, Veiga, Mendes; Vitinha, Neves; Bernardo Silva, Fernandes, Neto; Ronaldo. Subs: Semedo, Dalot, Rui Silva, Conceição, João Félix, Guedes, Inácio, Trincão, Sá, Ramos, Nunes, Leão, Neves, Samú Costa, Dias.

Congo DR (5-3-2): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kapaudi, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Mukau, Kayembe; Bakambu, Wissa. Subs: Banza, Batubinsika, Bongoda, Elia, Epolo, Fayulu, Kakuta, Mayele, Kalulu, Kayembe, Cipenga, Mbuku, Pickel, Sadiki, Tshibola.

Referee: Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al Jassim (Qatar)

Preamble

Rui Patricio; Cédric, Fonte, Pepe, Guerreiro; Carvalho; Sanches, Silva, João Mário; Nani, Ronaldo: names branded on to the soul of all Portuguese football fans. And yet the team which won the 2016 Euros, a first international title after a long wait and much pain, is so inferior to the one that’s since failed even to get close, it’s almost silly.

Football, though, is an art not a science, the job of balancing a team needing feel as much as calculation – feel which eluded Fernando Santos and, so far, has eluded Roberto Martínez too.

Previously, it’s been easy to blame Cristiano Ronaldo, his inability to press making it almost impossible to play a modern style and by whose mere presence everyone connected with team seems awed. Now, though, the tactical meta has changed a little – the best teams often sit off – and the players behind him are so good, their standing in the game so high, they really should be able to carry the physical slack while facilitating finishing that remains excellent. Their time is now – but also, their time was in 2020, 2022 and 2024 – with no guarantee that Bruno Fernandes, Berrnardo Silva, Rúben Dias and João Cancelo will sustain their current levels until 2028. That’s a lot of pressure for a group who’ve not worn it well.

Nor will DRC make things easy. Previously renowned for chaotic attacking, under Sébastien Desabre they’ve morphed into a doughty defensive outfit, one that is hard to penetrate but struggles to penetrate. They had to fight to qualify, needing a playoff and extra time, but now they’re here, participating in their first World Cup since 1974, they won’t be easy to shake. And, as Spain discovered, any team that is disciplined and organised can be hard to break down, the pedigree of the DRC back four – it features Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba and Arthur Masuaku – of far greater pedigree that Cape Verde’s.

Of course, the likeliest outcome is a comfortable Portugal win but, as the game – and real life – never tire of reminding us, they don’t care for what should happen, only for what does happen. The line between immortality and ignominy is thin.

Kick-off: 12pm local, 1pm EDT, 6pm BST, 3am AEST

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