Ignore the negativity, England are meeting expectations
Click here for England v DR Congo odds
Wednesday, 17:00
Live on BBC One
Take away the noise and instead focus on outcomes. The result of that process: England have achieved exactly what most would have expected in the group phase.
A very popular guess would have been seven points and hopefully a few goals from Harry Kane. And that's how it's panned out.
Kane has netted three times while England racked up two wins and a draw, the only wrinkle being that the vast majority would have expected the draw to have come against Croatia rather than Ghana.
This World Cup, more than ever given the extended format, is about pacing yourselves. England have looked flat and predictable at times but with enough flashes to suggest they can still play a big part in this tournament.
DR Congo in good health
At one stage, it looked as if England's last-32 opponents could be Senegal. And that would have looked a problematic fixture, especially as the Lions of Teranga beat Thomas Tuchel's men 3-1 in a friendly in Nottingham last year.
Instead, England get different African opposition and they'll hope to perform better than they did in that match and also during the rather turgid 0-0 draw with Ghana in the group phase.
It's a first ever meeting between DR Congo and England and, from the group phase, we know that they shouldn't be taken lightly.
The Leopards started their campaign with a creditable 1-1 draw with Portugal, suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to a Colombian side who topped the group in impressive style and then, in the match they had to win, came from behind to beat Uzbekistan 3-1.
Bigger odds options to play an England win
There's a sense of deja vu about the pricing up of England games in this World Cup.
Although not quite as short as they were against Ghana and Panama, the Three Lions are once again heavy odds-on at 1/41.25 to get the win in 90 minutes. The Draw is 9/25.50 while DR Congo are 14/115.00 to shock England in regulation time.
To qualify, which brings in extra-time and penalties, England are just 1/101.10 to progress and set up a possible last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico while DR Congo trade at 11/26.50.
There are two obvious ways to boost the price on England getting it done.
The first is heading to the Half Time/Full Time market and backing Draw/England at 3/14.00.
The Three Lions were level at the break in all three of their group games but upped it in the second half to beat both Croatia and Panama.
It's very easy to see that scenario playing out again, especially as in the games against opposition comparable to England (Portugal and Colombia), DR Congo were all square after 45 minutes in both.
England can often be slow into their stride against teams that allow them to have the ball and it would no surprise to see that pattern repeat here.
Back Draw/England in Half Time/Full Time market
The second way to get bigger odds is backing England to win and Both teams to Score at 11/43.75.
Yes, Tuchel's side have kept clean sheets in their last two games but they should have conceded a penalty against Ghana while Panama had a second-half goal ruled out by the narrowest of offsides.
England have problems at right back and a defence that has rather been thrown together as opposed to being familiar with each other.
DR Congo have enough attacking quality to get on the scoresheet.
Wissa and Bellingham to shine in BB
I'll be more specific though. Rather than just back DR Congo to find the net, let's pinpoint Yoanne Wissa as the man to get the goal.
After a disrupted season with Newcastle, the striker has come alive in this World Cup.
His header earned a point against Portugal while Wissa - who scored 20 goals in 39 games in his final season at Brentford - fired home twice in the win over Uzbekistan.
Wissa has different ways of scoring and his ability to get in behind defences should concern England. He definitely appeals as an anytime scorer at 5/16.00 and we'll use him as part of a Bet Builder.
Leg two is simple enough - England to win in 90 minutes. Even if Wissa scores, the Three Lions have the firepower to wipe that out and go on and win.
And the man who can lead the way is Jude Bellingham.
Tuchel probably knew all along that the Real Madrid man was one of the few in the squad who had the required X factor to raise his game at a World Cup. Others did a good job in qualifying but Bellingham's big-time mentality sets him apart.
By appearing somewhat cool towards Bellingham, Tuchel has got the required response and the rewards are there to see.
England's No.10 put the Three Lions 3-2 up in the win over Croatia and then he poked home a corner and set up Harry Kane's header against Panama to unlock a game that was heading towards stalemate.
Bellingham to Score or Assist is 11/102.11 as a single and boosts the Bet Builder to 16s.
Back England Win, Jude Bellingham To Score Or Assist and Yoane Wissa Anytime Goalscorer
England at the World Cup so far
England took seven points from their group games to win Group L and set up the DR Congo clash...
|
England 4-2 Croatia |
Kane (2), Bellingham, Saka |
Dallas | June 17th |
| England 0-0 Ghana | - | Boston | June 23rd |
|
Panama 0-2 England |
Kane, Bellingham |
New York-New Jersey | June 27th |