England’s knockout stage opponents have been confirmed at the end of the group stage of the new 48-team World Cup. They’ll be facing the best third placed team in the form of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 32, with a potential round of sixteen clash against the winner of the Mexico/Ecuador game awaiting the Three Lions.
DR Congo finished Group K in third place, collecting four points from a draw with Portugal, a defeat to Colombia, and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan that kept their tournament alive in dramatic fashion. Yoane Wissa, who plies his trade in the Prem with Newcastle, scored three of their four group stage goals. The England vs DR Congo odds have thrown up an interesting test, and the nature of their group stage matches tells you exactly what kind of side England are facing.
Holding Portugal
Portugal went ahead in the sixth minute, with midfielder Joao Neves heading in from Pedro Neto’s cross. What came next was DR Congo’s best advertisement for what they can produce. Wingback Arthur Masuaku delivered a cross that Yoanne Wissa headed in from close range in the last minute of first-half stoppage time to draw them level.
(Portugal stats from game on left; DRC on right)
It was DR Congo’s first ever World Cup finals goal, having scored none and conceded 14 when they competed as Zaire back in 1974. The goal was even more special considering it came against a Portugal side who are among the tournament favourites. Cristiano Ronaldo captained the side and played all 90 minutes in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup at the age of 41. Yet one of the sport’s greatest players could not find the back of the net against the debutantes, and the world will undoubtedly not let him forget.
Colombia showed the gaps
The second match was DR Congo’s weakest performance. Colombia won 1-0 through Daniel Munoz in the 76th minute, a deflected low finish at the near post. DR Congo were passive for large parts of the match, failed to create clear chances, and had no real answer to Colombia’s defensive structure. Sebastien Desabre’s side headed into the final group match needing a result.
Wissa’s rescue act against Uzbekistan
They went behind again inside 10 minutes, with Eldor Shomurodov putting Uzbekistan ahead. What followed was Wissa at his most decisive, a penalty on 68 minutes to level it. Fiston Mayele made it 2-1 on 78, and Wissa added a third in added time to finish 3-1. It was one of the group stage’s more dramatic turnarounds. Anyone following odds on football at that point would have had DR Congo well on their way out. They had different ideas, and eventually finished as the best third placed team.
(Stats from DRC vs UZB- DRC left; UZB right)
Wissa: England’s main problem to solve
Three goals, a man-of-the-match award against Uzbekistan- DR Congo’s best moments all ran through the same player. His header against Portugal came from intelligent movement off a left-sided delivery. His penalty against Uzbekistan was composed. England’s backline will need to track his runs and cut off the wide supply that has fed him in the group stage, particularly down Masuaku’s left channel. Both players have plenty of Premier League experience and know how England’s key players function.
Where England can hurt them
DR Congo went behind in the sixth minute against Portugal and in the 10th minute against Uzbekistan. Both times they reorganised and chased the match. England going ahead early would put them in that position again, and England’s quality in behind means the open, reactive kind of match that follows an early goal suits the Three Lions far more than it does DR Congo. The Colombia performance gives the clearest template. Against an organised, structured side with defensive discipline, DR Congo created little of note, and Colombia kept a clean sheet without much trouble. If England can replicate that defensive shape and limit Wissa’s service from wide areas, 90 minutes should be enough.