FIFA World Cup
Despite not being at their best, England topped Group L with seven points while Congo DR - who featured in Group K - advanced as one of the best eight third-placed sides.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel, having already seen four-time champions Germany and three-time runners-up Netherlands making early exits, expects his players to be fully focused on Congo DR and not think about any other team.
“If we get carried away and start talking and thinking about possible round of 16, we will just get punished,” said Tuchel when asked about the possibility of facing co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16 after Congo DR.
“If we get carried away and start talking and thinking about possible round of 16, we will just get punished,” said Tuchel when asked about the possibility of facing co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16 after Congo DR.
The tactician has a point as the knockout stage can be cruel, as Germany and the Netherlands discovered in their penalty shootout defeats to Paraguay and Morocco respectively.
While England have not been at their best, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have been in scintillating form and Tuchel will expect the duo to lead his side's charge.
While England have not been at their best, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have been in scintillating form and Tuchel will expect the duo to lead his side's charge.
Kane's strike in the 2-0 win against Panama made him England’s all-time leading scorer at the FIFA World Cup with 11 goals and the Bayern Munich forward will be determined to produce his best again.
Congo DR - who will be playing their first FIFA World Cup knockout stage tie - can be expected to adopt a gameplan to frustrate England, an approach which Panama used to great effect.
They will be content to sit back and allow England to dominate, with the aim of hitting the 1966 champions on the break.
Congo DR - who will be playing their first FIFA World Cup knockout stage tie - can be expected to adopt a gameplan to frustrate England, an approach which Panama used to great effect.
They will be content to sit back and allow England to dominate, with the aim of hitting the 1966 champions on the break.
The African side's search for goals will be led by Yoane Wissa, with the Newcastle United forward having scored three of their four goals so far.
The players have spoken about their determination to bring joy to their country, which is fighting an Ebola outbreak and the instability caused by decades of conflict and will face England with the drive to do just that.
"We don't have much to lose, but it is also a source of motivation. If we're here, it's because we deserve it," head coach Sebastien Desabre said.
"Our World Cup is already a success relative to our goals. The pressure is on the England team. They need to keep moving forward towards their objectives."
The players have spoken about their determination to bring joy to their country, which is fighting an Ebola outbreak and the instability caused by decades of conflict and will face England with the drive to do just that.
"We don't have much to lose, but it is also a source of motivation. If we're here, it's because we deserve it," head coach Sebastien Desabre said.
"Our World Cup is already a success relative to our goals. The pressure is on the England team. They need to keep moving forward towards their objectives."
England v Congo DR
Venue: Atlanta Stadium (Atlanta)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 12:00 (UTC-4)
Venue: Atlanta Stadium (Atlanta)
Kick-off: Wednesday, 12:00 (UTC-4)
