At the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the England national team are set to continue their World Cup campaign on 1 July in a match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
England national team
England secured top spot in Group L thanks to a 2–0 victory over Panama in their third match, but it cannot be said that they put in a convincing performance for much of the group stage. This is fuelling nerves amongst the ‘Three Lions’ supporters, as the team are aiming to reach at least the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the fifth time in a row.
Under Thomas Tuchel, the English side usually perform at their best in competitive matches. The team have won ten of their last eleven matches (with one draw), the sole exception being their group stage fixture against Ghana.
It is worth noting that in seven of England’s last nine matches, fewer than 2.5 goals were scored. Six of the team’s last eight goals have been scored in the second half.
Harry Kane’s goal against Panama made him England’s all-time leading goalscorer at World Cups (11 goals). In two of England’s last three matches against African teams, he has scored before half-time.
The DR Congo national team
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is making history for its fans, playing in a knockout match at the World Cup for the first time. A 3–1 victory over Uzbekistan in the third round was enough to see them progress from the group as the best third-placed team.
Sebastião Desabra’s side have, however, already shown what they are capable of against Portugal. For many, this was a sign that the team can hold their own against strong opponents.
In 13 of the African side’s last 16 matches, fewer than 2.5 goals were scored. The DR Congo have failed to score before the 30th minute in any of their last ten matches.
Three of the DR Congo’s four goals at this World Cup have been scored by Yoane Vissa. In five of his last six international matches, he has scored the second goal of the game on each occasion.
Prediction for the England v DR Congo match
The ‘Three Lions’ are the clear favourites for this match. The team performs far more consistently across all areas of the pitch.
At the same time, the DR Congo national team are quite well-organised in defence. The realisation that all their opponents view them as underdogs is forcing the coaching staff to build their game around defence. The DR Congo rarely lose by a large margin, so a 1–0 win for England looks like an interesting prospect.
First-half total goals under 1
