The most obvious conclusion after the match between England and DR Congo is the desire to compare this game with the Congolese team's encounter against Uzbekistan. One can take comfort in the fact that Uzbekistan missed its chance not against a poor African team that simply runs more, but against a well-organized, confident, and well-prepared national team.
The match, held on Wednesday in Atlanta, was expected to be a cautious, positional football display where no one would take risks going forward, but in reality, it turned out quite differently. French specialist Sebastien Desabre managed to instill in the Congolese team organization, balance, and the ability to maximize results from few opportunities (something we unfortunately experienced firsthand). Perhaps the so-called African magic, often discussed in the media, also played a role, but more on that later.
The game started rather slowly, with the English moving calmly on the pitch, focusing on increasing their possession percentage. However, soon the DR Congo players took center stage. The hardworking Brayen Sipenga, who had previously troubled Uzbek players, finished a beautiful combination with a goal after a pass from Chancel Mbemba on the left flank. None of the English expected goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to not even touch the ball but simply let it in — 0:1.
After conceding, Thomas Tuchel's men laid siege to the Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, who occasionally performed miracles. His two saves in the first half could easily be used in commercials: the reserve goalkeeper of French club Le Havre first stopped two dangerous shots from Jude Bellingham and then one from Harry Kane. Meanwhile, TV cameras constantly searched the stands for famous Congolese sorcerers who supposedly had 'enchanted' their team's goal.
A sign that the English nerves were fraying was the yellow card shown to Bellingham, while the symbol of Congolese persistence was Yoane Wissa, who dove headfirst for the ball like a fish. Before halftime, the 'leopards' could have bitten the 'lions' a second time, but the shot was not lethal. After a pass from Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the same Wissa seemed physically unable to miss, but instead of scoring into an empty net, he hit the post.
The most controversial and notable event of the first half occurred a bit earlier. Declan Rice, seeing Kane charging forward, beautifully lobbed the ball into the box. The striker left Axel Tuanzebe behind and fell in the penalty area after a collision with Mpasi-Nzau. Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh did not hesitate to penalize the English forward for simulation. VAR attempted to intervene, but the referee showed unexpected firmness in his dispute with the computer.
Halftime did not bring new ideas to Tuchel's team. Even while losing, they continued to play in the traditional British style, launching the ball into the box. In such a situation, only Kane could save England. Midway through the second half, after a pass from newly substituted Anthony Gordon, Kane headed the ball precisely into the corner of the goal. Mpasi reached the ball but could not hold it — 1:1.
The Congolese were in the round of 16 for almost 75 minutes, but Kane proved why he tops the list of the world's best scorers. Surrounded by several opponents, the striker received the ball, found a comfortable position, and with a powerful shot sent the ball under the crossbar — 2:1. The Bayern Munich forward's fifth goal of the tournament turned anxiety and criticism at home into positive mood and took the England national team to the round of 16. They face Mexico on July 5.
Source: www.gazeta.uz