- England's all-competition form across their last ten matches is 7 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.
- DR Congo's all-competition away form across their last six is 1 win, 3 draws and 2 defeats.
- DR Congo have scored five goals in their last five matches, Yoane Wissa has supplied three of them.
Tuchel's Three Lions
The Three Lions look to be in a great spot under Thomas Tuchel. The players appear to be responding well to the German's emphasis on structure, flexibility and positional rotations, as well as his trigger-based pressing and ability to manipulate transitions. England have won seven, drawn two and lost one of their ten all-competition matches since he took over on 1 January 2025. Their recent five-match form is particularly strong, with four wins and a draw, so the Three Lions are coming into the World Cup at the right time.
England's FIFA World Cup, Group L 2026 record of a 0-0 draw with Ghana followed by a 0-2 win away to Panama also suggests that they have plenty of control and bite about them, which should be able to see them through. In terms of their formation, Tuchel's side are able to operate as a 4-2-3-1, but also create a back three in possession, which should see them overload the half-spaces in this fixture. Both Teams to Score - No at 49/100 looks like a good play here as Tuchel's England aren't a free-scoring side.
DR Congo are a different breed
This fixture is a brand new clash at this level in the USA, but the fixture has a knockout feel about it, as opposed to the two previous, which were merely Group stage padding. Sebastien Desabre has done a good job with DR Congo since taking over on 8 August 2022, giving the team a clear identity which is pragmatic, but not too negative. They've won four, drawn three and lost three of their all-competition last ten, which is steady rather than flashy. However, their most recent five is a little patchy - 1 win, 2 draws and 2 defeats.
The Leopards have demonstrated they can certainly mix it with quality opposition in Group K 2026, most notably in their 1-1 away draw against Portugal. It should be noted that DR Congo's 4-3-3 base can also play as a back five when under pressure and are set up to soak up pressure and hit directly in wide channels. Desabre's men sit compact, defend narrow and can be devastating on the counter, particularly when games open up in transition, which they will certainly do in this contest.
England should edge it
England are the clear favourites at 29/100, which makes the draw at 4/1 look enticing for this clash. If DR Congo keep it tight, it may well be a cup tie, particularly given the Leopards have enough steel and counterpunch to make it awkward for the English. However, we believe that Tuchel's men should come through here as they're the most likely winner and it's hard to see a shootout, with England the likelier winners in a controlled manner.
