DR Congo Enter England Knockout Test With Belief in an Upset

What happened: DR Congo face England on Wednesday in the last 32 of the World Cup in Atlanta, and the buildup has sharpened around one clear idea: this is the biggest match in DR Congo’s football history, and the Leopards do not appear to be treating it as ceremonial. The Guardian’s report centers on former DR Congo defender and captain Gabriel Zakuani, who believes England have weaknesses that can be attacked.

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Zakuani’s own reaction says plenty about the emotional size of the fixture. The former Peterborough and Leyton Orient defender has been working regularly with BBC Radio 5 Live during the tournament, but he turned down the chance to co-commentate on DR Congo against England because of the personal weight of the occasion. According to the report, he felt there was too much emotion involved to cover the match in a neutral broadcast role.

Why it matters: Knockout games can compress a tournament quickly. England will be expected by many to control the tie, but DR Congo’s belief matters because the last 32 is exactly the stage where pressure can shift from the underdog to the favorite. Zakuani’s view, as a former Leopards captain, is not presented as neutral analysis from outside the camp; it is a read from someone deeply connected to the team and the moment.

Tournament impact: The key confirmed point is not that DR Congo have exposed England already, but that their camp and former players see a tactical route into the contest. Zakuani’s assessment that there are “holes” in England frames the game as more than a mismatch. If DR Congo can keep the match close, the psychological burden may increasingly sit with England, whose tournament expectations are naturally higher.

What to watch: The source does not provide team news, tactical lineups, injury details or projected selection, so the useful read is narrower: watch whether DR Congo can turn emotional energy into disciplined pressure. The danger in a match like this is not just a single counterattack or set piece, but the favorite being forced into discomfort early and then having to solve a knockout game under rising noise.

Confidence: Confirmed by the source: DR Congo are preparing for a last-32 World Cup match against England in Atlanta, Zakuani sees the tie as more difficult for England than some expect, and he declined a BBC co-commentary role because of the emotion attached to the match. Still to follow: team selections, tactical setup, match events and whether DR Congo’s upset belief translates into the game itself.