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Congo can reach the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time in its history Saturday night. The path is simple. If they beat Uzbekistan, the Leopards are in. Anything less and they go home.
Congo has played in one World Cup, back in 1974, as Zaire. It lost all three games and never scored. Half a century later, three points Saturday would deliver the country's first World Cup win and its first trip to the knockout stage.
Congo sits third in Group K with one point. Beat Uzbekistan and it climbs to four, enough to lock up one of the eight best third-place spots in the expanded field, no matter what happens elsewhere. A draw leaves them on two points and almost certainly out. A loss ends them at the bottom of the group.
Congo opened by holding Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a draw, then pushed Colombia to the edge before a narrow loss. Sebastien Desabre's side carries real weapons, Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa and veteran striker Cedric Bakambu among them.
Win and a round of 32 date with a group winner awaits, likely England. Lose and they go home.
If Uzbekistan pulls out the win, they barely have a chance. Three points would lift Uzbekistan to third in Group K, but its minus-7 goal difference is the worst among teams chasing a third-place spot. Even a victory most likely leaves it outside the eight that advance. It would take a rout, not a one- or two-goal win, plus help from other groups for them to advance.
They would, however, have their first World Cup win in their first appearance in the tournament to take home as a consolation prize.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is DR Congo out of the World Cup? Can Uzbekistan still qualify for knockout rounds?
Continue reading...
Is DR Congo out of the World Cup?
Congo has played in one World Cup, back in 1974, as Zaire. It lost all three games and never scored. Half a century later, three points Saturday would deliver the country's first World Cup win and its first trip to the knockout stage.
Congo sits third in Group K with one point. Beat Uzbekistan and it climbs to four, enough to lock up one of the eight best third-place spots in the expanded field, no matter what happens elsewhere. A draw leaves them on two points and almost certainly out. A loss ends them at the bottom of the group.
Congo opened by holding Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a draw, then pushed Colombia to the edge before a narrow loss. Sebastien Desabre's side carries real weapons, Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa and veteran striker Cedric Bakambu among them.
Win and a round of 32 date with a group winner awaits, likely England. Lose and they go home.
Can Uzbekistan still qualify?
If Uzbekistan pulls out the win, they barely have a chance. Three points would lift Uzbekistan to third in Group K, but its minus-7 goal difference is the worst among teams chasing a third-place spot. Even a victory most likely leaves it outside the eight that advance. It would take a rout, not a one- or two-goal win, plus help from other groups for them to advance.
They would, however, have their first World Cup win in their first appearance in the tournament to take home as a consolation prize.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is DR Congo out of the World Cup? Can Uzbekistan still qualify for knockout rounds?
Continue reading...
