DR Congo will face England in England vs DR Congo, the country’s first-ever World Cup knockout match. Sebastien Desabre has taken a side that has already shown it can frustrate higher-profile opponents into uncharted territory.
Under Desabre’s four-year stewardship, DR Congo have never been beaten by more than one goal. They reached this point after taking one point against Portugal, with Yoane Wissa heading in after Joao Neves had scored a sixth-minute header, then surviving late pressure from Colombia with Lionel Mpasi producing an inspired goalkeeping display.
Lionel Mpasi and the back five
Desabre has built the team around a back five, three workmen in the middle and a front two against Portugal and Colombia. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku have worked as wing-backs, while Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe helped keep Cristiano Ronaldo shackled at the back.
That shape has kept DR Congo hard to break down. They have scored one goal or fewer in two-thirds of their matches under Desabre, and that pattern has been central to their route to the last-32 clash with England.
England and Thomas Tuchel
England reached the tie after a 2-0 win over Panama, but the inquest into their lack of creativity, inspiration or energy in attacking areas continues. Thomas Tuchel has already suffered a two-goal defeat in charge, losing 3-1 to Senegal, and FIFA’s style metrics place England among one of just four teams whose playing style differs most from DR Congo.
Victory over Uzbekistan marked the greatest moment in DR Congo’s footballing history, and now they carry that momentum into a meeting with a side whose structure looks built to challenge England’s attack from the first whistle. Can DR Congo’s defensive setup contain England in their first-ever World Cup knockout match?
