DR Congo know that a win against Uzbekistan will see them progress to the Round of 32 at this summer’s World Cup. Get the latest DR Congo vs Uzbekistan team news ahead of the Group K clash at 00.30am UK time on Sunday 28th June.
After holding Portugal to a famous draw in their first game, DR Congo were unfortunate to fall to a 1-0 defeat to Colombia in their second match. Their most winnable fixture on paper is still to come though and a win over Uzbekistan here would surely see the Leopards through the knock-out stages.
It’s been a tough old time for Fabio Cannavaro and Uzbekistan. They pushed Colombia hard in their first match before eventually succumbing to a 3-1 defeat but their second game resulted in a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.
This is the first time these two countries have ever met in international football.
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DR Congo vs Uzbekistan team news
DR Congo team news
DR Congo have adopted a back three that’s set up more like a back five in their first two games against their stronger opponents in the group. They could be tempted to switch to a back four in this game against weaker opposition however, with a win needed for qualification.
Sebastien Desabre often played with a back four in qualifying, partnering the experienced Chancel Mbemba with Burnley man Axel Tuanzebe in central defence. Should he revert to that formation for this must-win tie, expect Steve Kapaudi to be the man to drop out.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku will continue at full-back, while the midfield trio of Ngal’ayel Mukau, Samuel Moutoussamy and Edo Kayembe will expect to continue. Those three complement each other well in midfield, but Mukau will hope to have a little more freedom to push on in this game than he has had so far.
In attack, another experienced head in Cedric Bakambu will surely start alongside Yoane Wissa, who scored the Leopards’ only goal of the tournament so far versus Portugal. The most likely beneficiary of a potential switch in formation will be Theo Bongonda.
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Uzbekistan team news
Uzbekistan’s only injury doubt so far in the tournament has been on Rustam Ashurmatov, but the defender featured in the 5-1 defeat to Portugal last time out so is likely to play again in the final game of the group stage against DR Congo.
Although Uzbekistan already know their fate, it’s unlikely that Fabio Cannavaro will ring the changes in this game. His side will want to go home with some pride and in truth, he doesn’t have enough strength in depth to really rotate his starting eleven for this game.
As such, expect Manchester City man Abdukodir Khusanov to join Ashurmatov and Abdulla Abdullaev in the back three, with Bekhruz Karimov and Sherzod Nasrullaev providing some width from wing-back on either side.
Up front, Uzbekistan’s talisman is Eldor Shomurodov. Abbosbek Fayzullaev has already become the team’s first ever goalscorer at a World Cup, but the skipper would love to join him in the record books by finding the net at the tournament. With the White Wolves already out, this is his last chance.
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan predicted lineups
DR Congo (4-3-3): Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Kayembe; Bongonda, Bakambu, Wissa
Uzbekistan (3-4-2-1): Yusupov; Khusanov, Abdullayev, Ashurmatov; Karimov, Shukurov, Khamrobekov, Nasrullaev; Fayzullayev, Urunov; Shomurodov
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