Everything you need to know about Congo ahead of World Cup 2026 knockout clash with England

England are acceptable to look Congo successful the Round of 32 connected July 1 astatine the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions topped Group L with wins implicit Croatia and Panama and a gully with Ghana, portion Congo were the highest-ranked third-place team.

Congo drew 1-1 with Portugal, mislaid 1-0 to Colombia and thumped Uzbekistan 3-1 to scope the knockouts for the archetypal clip successful their history.

Ahead of the clash, Sports Mole provides everything you request to cognize astir Congo.

What is Congo's past astatine large tournaments?

This is Congo's 2nd quality astatine a World Cup, with their archetypal coming astatine the 1974 tournament, erstwhile they were known arsenic Zaire, and they crashed retired aft losing each 3 of their radical games.

52 years connected from that World Cup, Congo are a overmuch amended broadside and person been transformed by caput manager Sebastien Desabre, who antecedently managed Uganda and has coached clubs successful Morocco, Egypt and Algeria.

Desabre replaced Hector Cuper astatine the helm aft Congo failed to suffice for the 2022 World Cup and they are present viewed arsenic 1 of the champion teams successful Africa.

Congo reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and qualified for this tourney by winning a play-off, beating Jamaica 1-0 successful the final.

What tin England expect from Congo?

Desabre has made Congo a beardown antiaircraft squad that has kept 29 cleanable sheets successful 57 games since his assignment and they person switched to a backmost 5 astatine this tournament.

Having favoured a backmost 4 passim his tenure, Desabre made the power successful Congo's warm-up crippled against Denmark and utilized the maneuver against Portugal and Colombia, earlier reverting to a backmost 4 against Uzbekistan.

Congo similar to deed the bigger nations connected the antagonistic and person 2 precise experienced and talented strikers successful Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu that they trust connected for goals.

The Leopards person ne'er mislaid by much than 1 extremity erstwhile Desabre has had adjacent to his full-strength squad available and they person drawn against Portugal and Denmark successful caller weeks, who are the lone European nations they person faced since helium took over.

Expect a disciplined antiaircraft show from Congo, who volition look to frustrate England and origin them problems connected the counter.

Who are Congo's prima players?

Wissa and Bakambu volition person cardinal roles to play up beforehand and the brace person linked up good truthful acold astatine this tournament.

Wissa has had a existent constituent to beryllium aft a disappointing debut play astatine Newcastle and helium scored 3 of Congo's 4 World Cup goals successful the radical stage.

Captain Chancel Mbemba has been cardinal astatine the bosom of a defence that besides includes the likes of West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Burnley's Axel Tuanzebe and Lens's Arthur Masuaku.

In the centre of the park, Sunderland's Noah Sadiki offers large athleticism and is simply a progressive ball-carrier, portion Lille's Ngal'ayel Mukau is an aggressive, all-action midfielder who has reportedly attracted involvement from the likes of Tottenham and Inter Milan this summer.