World Cup what to know: Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to get on track after disappointing start

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have taken their expected starring roles so far in the World Cup.

>Cristiano Ronaldo is getting some unexpected criticism.

>Portugal's 41-year-old star arrived in North America hoping to to make history by scoring in his sixth straight World Cup. He ended up frustrated after a forgettable opening performance in Portugal's surprising 1-1 draw against Congo, missing on a couple of good scoring chances in the second half.

>Ronaldo and Portugal get a chance to get back on track against Uzbekistan Tuesday in Houston.

>One of the pre-tournament favorites to win the World Cup, Portugal could use a win to keep pace in Group K following Colombia's opening win and Congo's tie in its first World Cup in 52 years.

>Colombia and Congo play in Guadalajara, Mexico, in Tuesday's late match, with England and Harry Kane facing Ghana. Panama also plays Croatia in a critical Group L match after both teams lost their openers.

What to watch on June 22— Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m. EDT in Houston (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

>— England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m. EDT in Foxborough, Massachusetts (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

>— Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m. EDT in Toronto (Fox/Telemundo/Peacock)

>— Colombia vs. Congo, 10 p.m. EDT in Guadalajara, Mexico (FS1/Telemundo/Peacock)

Kane's record pursuitHarry Kane scored two goals in England's opening 4-2 win over Croatia, giving him 10 in World Cup play to match Gary Lineker's English record. It also pushed Kane into a seven-way tie for seventh in tournament history.

>Kane gets a chance to add to that total when England faces surprising Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Tuesday.

>Should he score, Kane would move into a tie for sixth with Germany's Jürgen Klinsmann and Hungary's Sándor Kocsis. A win would send England to the knockout stage for the third straight World Cup.

>Ghana is tied with England atop Group L following its opening 1-0 win over Panama on Brandon Thomas-Asante's goal in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Ghana is looking for its first trip to the knockout stage since reaching the quarterfinals in 2010.

>England is unbeaten against African teams at the World Cup, with five wins and three draws.

Elimination game?Panama and Croatia will play a game in Toronto that neither can afford to lose.

>With opening losses, the countries are at the bottom of Group L behind England and Ghana. A win keeps alive the hopes of reaching the knockout stage, while a loss all but ends those hopes.

>Panama was in line for its first World Cup point against Ghana before Thomas-Asante's late goal broke a scoreless tie.

>Croatia finished third in Qatar in 2022 and was runner-up to France four years earlier in Russia, but is in trouble after losing 4-2 to England in this year's opener.

Colombia aiming for knockout stage Colombia can lock up its spot in the knockout stage against surprising Congo in Guadalajara.

>It would be a big step after the Colombians didn't even get into the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

>Luis Diaz got Colombia off to a strong start in its opener, finishing with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.

>The Colombians could face a difficult task against a disciplined Congo side that frustrated Portugal.

>Keep an eye on Congo's Yoane Wissa. The Newcastle United forward scored Congo's first goal in two World Cup appearances with a header in stoppage time just before halftime against Portugal.

More World Cup news— Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage

>— Christian Pulisic returns to training with US after missing last World Cup match with injury

>— World Cup concessions: $75 caviar-topped tots in Miami, a day’s pay worth of beer in Mexico City

>— Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck out for the rest of the World Cup with ankle injury

>— World Cup goal frenzy: 121 goals in 40 games. Premier League players lead the way

>— A win over Saudi Arabia would send Cape Verde to the round of 32 at the World Cup

>— World Cup Day 12 photo gallery

Stats of the dayMessi scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals in a 2-0 over Austria, breaking the record of 16 set by Germany's Miroslav Klos. The Argentina star also set another, less-desirable record, missing his third career non-shootout penalty kick in the first half. That's one more than Ghana's Asamoah Gyan for such misses in the World Cup. Messi also has taken a record seven penalty kicks.

>___

>AP Sports Writer Kyle Hightower contributed to this report.

>___

>AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup