Wissa in the spotlight as DR Congo target historic result against Colombia

DR Congo made an encouraging instrumentality to the World Cup stage. Fifty-two years aft their erstwhile appearance, the Leopards claimed the archetypal World Cup constituent successful their past by holding Portugal to a 1-1 draw. They whitethorn adjacent consciousness frustrated not to person taken each 3 points aft troubling the 2016 European champions and seeing Cedric Bakambu onslaught the station successful the 2nd half.

However, an adjacent tougher situation whitethorn present await.

On Tuesday successful Guadalajara, DR Congo instrumentality connected a Colombia broadside who began their run successful cleanable manner with a 3-1 triumph implicit Uzbekistan. Alongside Portugal, the Cafeteros are viewed arsenic the Congolese side's main rivals successful the contention for a spot successful the Round of 32. A triumph would determination the Leopards importantly person to a historical achievement.

Yoane Wissa expected to pb the charge

If 1 subordinate embodied DR Congo's show against Portugal, it was Yoane Wissa.

By opening the scoring against the Selecao, the Newcastle guardant became the archetypal Congolese subordinate ever to people astatine a World Cup. It was a fitting reward for a subordinate who present symbolises the ambitions of an full nation.

The Newcastle attacker endured a disappointing play disrupted by injury, but helium appears to person rediscovered his champion signifier astatine precisely the close moment. Operating conscionable down Bakambu, helium perpetually stretched the Portuguese defence with intelligent runs, antiaircraft enactment and accelerated guardant bursts.

His gait repeatedly troubled Portugal's backmost line, portion his tireless off-the-ball enactment perfectly reflected the principles established by Sebastien Desabre.

At 29, the erstwhile Lorient guardant is competing successful what is apt the biggest tourney of his vocation and is playing with a assurance seldom seen successful a Leopards shirt.

Against a Colombian defence known for its solidity but occasionally susceptible to balls successful behind, his qualities could erstwhile again beryllium decisive.

Will Desabre instrumentality with a backmost five?

Against Portugal, Sebastien Desabre opted for a five-man defence. With Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe and Steve Kapuadi successful cardinal defence, supported by Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Wan-Bissaka arsenic disciplined wing-backs, the Leopards produced an highly coagulated display.

The strategy achieved precisely what it was designed to do. DR Congo frustrated Portugal for agelong periods portion remaining unsafe connected the counter-attack. Despite seeing overmuch little possession, they created respective clear-cut opportunities and came adjacent to victory.

The cardinal question is whether Desabre volition repetition that attack against Colombia.

The Cafeteros contiguous a precise antithetic challenge. Whereas Portugal similar to predominate possession, Colombia are often much direct, much vertical and much assertive successful transition. Luis Diaz, Jhon Arias and skipper James Rodriguez connection antithetic types of threats.

Desabre whitethorn truthful clasp the backmost 5 to supply further extortion against Luis Diaz and Colombia's attacking full-backs. Equally, helium could beryllium tempted to revert to a four-man defence to adhd different subordinate successful attacking phases.

Another anticipation would beryllium to support 3 cardinal defenders portion pushing Wan-Bissaka and Masuaku overmuch higher up the pitch. That would efficaciously crook the strategy into much of a 3-5-2 than a 5-3-2 and let DR Congo to use greater unit to Colombia's build-up play.

After the occurrence of the Portugal crippled plan, Desabre's determination volition beryllium 1 of the defining tactical elements of this encounter.

Wan-Bissaka faces the Luis Diaz challenge

One of the astir eagerly anticipated battles volition pit Aaron Wan-Bissaka against Luis Diaz.

The Colombian winger remains the Tricolor's main attacking weapon. Quick, nonstop and relentless successful one-on-one situations, the Bayern subordinate represents a changeless danger.

To incorporate him, DR Congo volition trust connected 1 of the world's strongest defenders successful idiosyncratic duels. Wan-Bissaka delivered an outstanding show against Portugal and volition erstwhile again beryllium 1 of the cardinal figures successful the Congolese setup.

More broadly, the midfield conflict could beryllium decisive. Colombia mostly run successful a 4-2-3-1 strategy built astir skipper James Rodriguez. Even astatine 35, the erstwhile Real Madrid playmaker remains the team's originative heartbeat and continues to person exceptional passing ability.

Lumumba Vea, the 12th man, has arrived

Away from the pitch, the Leopards person besides received a symbolic boost.

Congolese protagonist icon Lumumba Vea has yet secured his visa to question to Mexico aft missing some the Portugal lucifer and the playoff fixtures played successful Guadalajara.

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Known passim Africa since AFCON 2025 for his tribute to Patrice Lumumba, lasting motionless during matches with 1 limb raised to the sky, helium represents acold much than an mean instrumentality to galore Congolese supporters.

His beingness successful the stands is expected to supply an further affectional assistance for a squad already backed by a important Congolese diaspora successful Mexico.

Facing the world's 12th-ranked nation, the situation remains immense. Yet aft pushing Portugal each the way, DR Congo person shown they did not travel to North America simply to marque up the numbers.