Key events
The DRC make one change following the 3-1 win over Uzbekistan. Striker Cédric Bakambu makes way for an extra midfielder in Ngal’ayel Mukau. There are plenty of stars familiar to fans of British football in the team: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) and Yoane Wissa (Newcastle) start, while Aaron Tshibola (Kilmarnock) and Edo Kayembe (Watford) are on the bench.
No surprises in the England starting XI. Especially if you’ve just read that communiqué from Jacob Steinberg. Thomas Tuchel makes three changes to his starting XI after the 2-0 win over Panama. Djed Spence replaces the injured Jarell Quansah at the problem position of right-back. Declan Rice returns at the expense of Morgan Rogers. And Noni Madueke starts on the right wing again, displacing his Arsenal colleague Bukayo Saka.
The teams
England: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane.
Subs: Dean Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Saka, Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Gordon, Watkins, Eze, Toney, James, Quansah.
DR Congo: Mpasi, Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku, Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku, Wissa, Cipenga.
Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Kapuadi, Batubinsika, Bongonda, Kakuta, Joris Kayembe, Elia, Tshibola, Bakambu, Pickel, Mayele, Banza, Kalulu, Edo Kayembe.
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh (Jordan)
Some early team news from Jacob Steinberg, our man in Atlanta. “Team out soon but it’s expected to be Declan Rice in for Morgan Rogers, Djed Spence for the injured Jarell Quansah and Noni Madueke in for Bukayo Saka.”
With still well over an hour until kick-off, you’ll have plenty of spare time on your hands. Let us therefore point you in the direction of Guardian puzzles, now featuring a new limited-edition daily puzzle to guess the international footballer: On the ball: world stage. What are you waiting for? Off you go, the MBM will still be here when you get back.
It would be remiss of us not to mention the hopes and dreams of the DRC’s opponents England as well. You want triple-leonine-infused copy? We got triple-leonine-infused copy!
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are competing in their second World Cup. It’s been a much more successful campaign than the first, which they competed as Zaire in 1974: four points and a positive goal difference, compared to zero points, no goals scored and 14 conceded. No wonder, then, that belief in the DRC squad ahead of the biggest match in their history is high.
Here’s how the Democratic Republic of the Congo plotted their way through Group K. A first-ever World Cup finals goal, a first-ever World Cup finals point, and then on from there.
A reminder of how England made their way through Group L. They weren’t the best of times, neither were they the worst of times.
Preamble
Number four in the Fifa rankings plays number 41 … and then when you factor in the roll-call of talent England boast, they’re winning this game more often than not. But hold on! This round has already thrown up one shock, with Paraguay (world number 41 at the time) condemning Germany (number 10) to their first spot-kick defeat since the days of Antonín Panenka. DR Congo have already held Portugal (world number five at the time) to a draw at this World Cup, and given Colombia (number 11) a good game. And taking everything in the round, the Democratic Republic of the Congo are betting with house money today, kind of, because …
Whatever happens against Thomas Tuchel’s team, this World Cup has already been a success. Not just because the Leopards made it to the last 32. It is also because, for a few weeks, football reminded millions of people that, despite war, division, politics and history, they still belong to the same story: a shared DRC.
… and that’s an article that really is worth your time. Get on it. So will England book their last-16 match with Mexico at the famous Azteca, or are we about to witness one of the great World Cup jaw-droppers? It’s going to be fun finding out. Kick-off in Atlanta is 12pm local/5pm BST/1am AEST. It’s on!
