Match report
Colombia are through to the knockouts and have top spot in Group K in their own hands after a 1-0 victory over DR Congo. Jonathan Wilson was at the Estadio Guadalajara and explains how Los Cafeteros finally found a way past keeper Lionel Mpasi.
As anybody who’s ever encountered Mexican traffic jams will know, there are times when it feels you’ll never get through the impasse. Colombia must have felt the same about the DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who made an outrageous string of saves that looked like they might earn his side an unlikely point. The Le Havre keeper was finally beaten – but only by a deflection that gave Colombia their second successive win a secured their passage to the last 32.
It was Daniel Muñoz who got the goal, the Crystal Palace right-back’s second in as many games, as he cut in from the right with half the DRC side seemingly distracted by a penalty appeal at the edge of the box.
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The few hours’ pause before the third round of group stage matches kick off is also an ideal time to work out who you think will reach the final – and how they might get there. Do your thing with Bracketology … as I bid you farewell with thanks for following along.
Colombia right-back Daniel Muñoz is an unlikely presence among the leaders on the 2026 World Cup golden boot standings after scoring in back-to-back matches. But it will still be a surprise if at least one of the top few players at the moment don’t pull away as the tournament heads into the last lap of the group stage.
Colombia fans are just getting the party started in Guadalajara and no doubt much closer to home. Much like the winning supporters, the Mexican city never sleeps, as South Korea star Son Heung-min learned during a recent outing.
The tacos that Son Heung-min ate were reportedly of the Al Pastor and Arrachera variety. The former Tottenham forward was mobbed after taking an Uber from South Korea’s training camp, perhaps the most-talked about base at this World Cup tournament, to downtown Guadalajara. The crowds were another signal, if any were needed, of the forward’s global popularity, though the online advice was that he should have gone to a better restaurant.
Colombia had their chances and peppered the goals from long range before – and after – Daniel Muñoz broke the deadlock. Their 20 shots included nine on target, and don’t include the three other times Los Cafeteros had the ball in the net, in a promising performance that perhaps only lacked a cutting edge. DR Congo had their backs to the wall for much of the contest, and relied on an outstanding display for their keeper, as they found it hard to find a way through the midfield to buildup play or simply launch counterattacks. A belated rally came much too late and Colombia move into the knockouts while only needing a draw against Portugal to lock in top spot in Group K. DR Congo need a first World Cup win in their history when they face Uzbekistan to boost their hopes of progressing to the last 32.
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Full time: Colombia 1-0 DR Congo
Colombia hang on, move to top spot in Group K and qualify for the knockouts with a tense win over DR Congo. Daniel Muñoz scores the decisive goal in the 76th minutes after DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi had kept his side in the game.
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90+5 min DR Congo unable to make anything out of the free kick as Colombia earn a goal kick.
90+4 min Jefferson Lerma picks up a late booking with more concern for Nathanaël Mbuku breaking clear through the midfield. DR Congo have 10 players forward with keeper Mpasi to pump it long across halfway.
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90+2 min DR Congo take a much-delayed corner and the ball skids into Colombia feet. Nathanaël Mbuku takes it again and his set pieces have added much to the DR Congo attack since the midfielder has come on. The header is directed toward almost in slow motion as Vargas dives to collect the ball on a bounce.
90 min DR Congo now doing all the attacking as they find width in the forward half and space to build up with the ball. Colombia fail to properly clear a free kick from Nathanaël Mbuku and the substitute eventually ends up with the ball back at his feet for a cracking strike from distance. Colombia keeper Vargas is forced into a diving save that might have just outdone all of Mpasi’s many interventions. At least six more minutes of fun to come …
88 min DR Congo earn a rare throw-in in their final third and Aaron Wan-Bissaka sends it into the mixer. The Colombia defence clears with some smart positioning and a series of headers.
86 min Mpasi pulls out another diving save off a shot from distance to keep DR Congo in the game.
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85 min Nathanaël Mbuku is also on for DR Congo with Samuel Moutoussamy done for the day and Edo Kayembe departing at the hydration break.
84 min DR Congo resorting to long balls out of defence. Charles Pickel is among a string of DR Congo substitutes and makes his presence felt with a foul in the middle of the pitch.
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82 min The Estadio Guadalajara is filled with song as Colombia keep pressing for a second. Jhon Córdoba wins the ball on the byline and sends the DR Congo defence into a panic, but it is his turn to edge offside.
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80 min Luis Díaz slams the ball into the top right corner but again the celebrations are shut down just as they begin. Díaz drifted offside momentarily before collecting the pass, to waste what would have been one for the highlight reels as he swung around on to his right boot and lashed the ball into the net.
78 min Luis Díaz wins the aerial battle in a one-on-one against Chancel Mbemba and sends the DR Congo captain crashing to the turf. The Colombia attacker chips the keeper to put the ball into the next and extend his side’s lead – only for the referee to blow for a foul in the buildup. There wasn’t much in that!
Juan Quintero sets up the opportunity with a through-ball from the edge of the area. Jhon Córdoba collapses to the turf in hope of a penalty but that just opens up space for Daniel Muñoz to run in to and lash the ball into the bottom corner. A deflection on the way through was probably the only way Colombia were going to beat DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi.
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GOAL! Colombia 1-0 DR Congo (Muñoz 76)
Daniel Muñoz gets the breakthrough as the dam wall finally breaks in front of the DR Congo goal.
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73 min The DR Congo attack have had limited opportunity to show their talents but now create a chance with some lovely one-touch passing around the edge of the area. Three chances in a matter of seconds including a shot from Wissa but the Colombia defence sets up well to clear the danger.
71 min The players are back in position and ready to begin the last stanza in at the Estadio Guadalajara.
That ends a quieter period for both sides with Colombia having two shots since half-time – with one on target – and DR Congo only adding one of target to the two that they had in the first half. Let’s hope the hydration flips the game just as it did in the first half.
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68 min DR Congo slow the momentum with two unnecessary fouls in as many minutes from Edo Kayembe and Samuel Moutoussamy. A draw would not be the worst result for DR Congo, at least on paper with Uzbekistan to come in their remaining game. That’s drink, folks …
65 min Luis Díaz whips in a cross from the left that floats into a dangerous area. The DR Congo keeper is forced to leap high and barely get a finger to the ball to knock it out for a corner.
63 min Colombia earn a free kick as in their attacking half after a foul from Samuel Moutoussamy and quickly take it before DR Congo are ready. But it was a little too quick for even their own players who are caught offside.
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61 min Luis Díaz searches for a gap down the left side but with little opening up picks out Juan Quintero at the top of the area. The Colombia veteran dinks the ball into Muñoz’s path as he finds space on the right but overhits his first touch of the game and the opportunity passes with a goal kick.
59 min Colombia call on experienced playmaker Juan Quintero in place of captain James Rodríguez, as well as Jhon Córdoba for Luis Suárez. DR Congo look to liven up their attack with Simon Banza coming on for Cédric Bakambu.
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58 min Jhon Lucumí shuts down a DR Congo attack with a clever foul. The Colombia defender picks up the first yellow card of the game as both sides swing the changes.
56 min Colombia rocket the ball into centre-forward Suárez’s feet. A quick lay off looks for Arias but with a little too much behind it the door opens for DR Congo to clear.
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54 min DR Congo break forward and Wissa brings the ball under control. The lay off to Axel Tuanzebe charging through the middle opens up a clear shot from outside the penalty area. But the defender leans back on his shot and it sails over the bar.
52 min Luis Suárez presses the DR Congo defence but releases the pressure with an unnecessary foul.
50 min Colombia shift the ball from side to side top earn a corner. DR Congo clear but the ball is quickly back in the area where Díaz has it on a string. A left-footed strike finds a way through DR Congo legs only for Mpasi to stick a boot out just in time. Jhon Arias puts the follow up wide of the near post and the DR Congo screams at his defenders.
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48 min Colombia are allowed as much time as they like on the ball without finding a way into DR Congo’s defensive line.
46 min DR Congo begin the second half.
DR Congo make their way out with Aaron Wan-Bissaka leading the way. One change with Ngal’ayel Mukau making way for emerging midfielder Noah Sadiki.
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Colombia are first back on to the pitch at the Estadio Guadalajara as they prepare to chase a breakthrough against a resolute DR Congo defence.
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With Colombia and DR Congo unable to break the deadlock in the first half, Portugal remain in top spot in Group K at the break with a goal difference of +5 compared to Los Cafeteros’ +2. The top two are both on four points at this stage, while DR Congo are currently third on two points with a game against Uzbekistan still to come.
See all the 2026 World Cup tables with this the last game in the second lap of the group stage.
Colombia have spent plenty of time working the ball around the final third but have had relatively few touches in the opposition penalty area with 16 to DR Congo’s two. Most of their 14 shots were taken from long range but still good enough to force Lionel Mpasi to save six attempts that were on target. Both of DR Congo’s two shots for the half were wide of the mark.
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Half-time: Colombia 0-0 DR Congo
It has a half of two halves – before hydration break, and after hydration break – as Colombia peppered the goals but were unable to find a way past DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi. But the momentum was taken out of the contest after the halt in play as DR Congo set up deeper and worked harder to close down Colombia’s many long-range shots.
45+3 min Colombia ping the ball around the top of the penalty area searching for a sight on goal. Jhon Arias finally unleashes but the shot is blocked.
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45+2 min DR Congo are stuck in their own half again with half-time now coming into view.
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45 min Masuaku drops another sublime corner into the DR Congo attack. But a quick goal kick from Colombia releases Luis Díaz for a one-on-one opportunity in the penalty area. Díaz takes a couple of touches to get the ball under control before spinning on to his left foot but the shot is blocked. Five minutes of added time to come.
43 min DR Congo pull out perhaps their best moment since the opening minutes as the clock ticks down towards half-time. An early cross has Cédric Bakambu leaping high – but not quite high enough – to glance the ball past Colombia keeper Vargas.
41 min Mpasi comes out to clear the ball but has to scamper back to his goalline as DR Congo again lose the ball in midfield. A little more urgency from Suárez might have rattled the DR Congo keeper before their defence closed down the danger.
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39 min A late challenge from Kayembe no Rodríguez hands the Colombia veteran a free kick in the final third. Davinson Sánchez gets a head to the ball but there isn’t enough behind it to trouble Mpasi.
37 min A pinpoint corner from Masuaku sends the ball into a dangerous area on the edge of the six-yard box. The Colombia defence scoop the ball away but that was a missed opportunity for DR Congo to at least test the keeper.
35 min DR Congo lock the ball forward with a moment of chaos that earns a throw-in in a dangerous area. The Colombia defence can only concede a corner for the first time in the game.
33 min Colombia poke and prod in their search for a way through DR Congo’s two banks of defence. The left side, where Díaz tends to drift, looks the mostly likely avenue closer to goal.
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31 min Colombia have lost all their eye-catching fluidity with both sides now breaking down before they can reach the final third. Exhibit P why the hydration breaks need to be put in the bin for future tournaments (we can only live in hope).
29 min Colombia have kept the door firmly shut in midfield really since the opening minute. But they almost prise it wide open again with a loose pass back to Camilo Vargas. Yoane Wissa pounces to pressure the Colombia keeper who clears a split second before the danger arrives.
27 min The man of the moment, or at least the first quarter of the game, Lionel Mpasi gets us back under way … as Richard writes in to rail against what he quite reasonably calls a “momentum break”.
“Not a drop being drunk during the hydration break. Clearly ignoring the rules. Yellow card them all.”
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24 min DR Congo sit deep but Díaz can’t resist taking a shot from outside the area. The rebound falls back at the Colombia attacker’s feet but a fresh approach, with a chip over the defensive line, amounts to little. Time to hydrate …
22 min Arthur Masuaku leaps into a tough challenge on Daniel Muñoz and knocks the ball out for the a throw-in. The DR Congo defender takes time to get to his feet with his side happy to slow the game down after withstanding 20 minutes of intense pressure.
20 min Another shot on target for Colombia! Mpasi leans to his left to punch away the attempt from distance. This time it is Colombia midfielder Gustavo Puerta trying his luck, but he will have to do better than that to find a way through with the DR Congo keeper standing firm so far.
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18 min DR Congo hold the ball for barely a minute before Colombia win it back in midfield. Los Cafeteros have already had four shots on target, as well as three flying wide, while DR Congo have had just one that came a minute into the game.
16 min Mpasi denies Díaz next. The winger steps around one, two, three DR Congo defenders inside the penalty area to get on to his right boot and take the shot. But it is too straight at the keeper gets down low to collect.
15 min Lionel Mpasi pulls off another stunning save with a dive to his left. This time it is Johan Mojica trying his luck from a distance with a strike toward the far post.
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13 min Colombia keep piling the pressure on DR Congo as Jhon Arias wins the ball back in midfield and drives forward with pace and power. The transition breaks down with a misplaced pass to Díaz on the left but little wonder Colombia are looking for the livewire winger. Los Cafeteros well on top.
11 min A brilliant diving save from Mpasi! James Rodríguez blazes away from outside the penalty area to send the ball moving and dipping toward the inside of the right post. The DR Congo keeper dives low and gets a hand to the ball to push it out for a corner. Colombia pressing hard for the opener.
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9 min Mpasi needs some attention after Muñoz collided into him when following up on that chance. Replays show that Muñoz was only barely offside in the buildup, when rushing past the defensive line for the first header.
7 min DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi launches himself skyward to knock away a powerful long-range header from Daniel Muñoz. The wingback follows up to nod the rebound off the keeper’s hands into the net – but the flag is raised for offside.
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5 min Daniel Muñoz has a huge opportunity to open the scoring but lashes wide of the near post from close range. Slick work down the left through Díaz sets up the chance from a cross across the six-yard box to pick out Muñoz, but that’s a horrible miss.
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3 min DR Congo transition down the left channel and hook in an early cross. That looks to be their preferred avenue to attack.
1 min DR Congo send an early warning to Colombia as Edo Kayembe rockets a blistering strike from outside the penalty area. The ball flies past Colombia keeper Camilo Vargas but is wide of the net.
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Kick-off
Peeeeeep! Colombia are decked out in their familiar bright yellow and get us under way against DR Congo in light blue in the World Cup Group K match at Estadio Guadalajara.
As the final bars of the national anthems ring out at the Estadio Guadalajara here is a reminder of the starting XIs for each side as they meet for the first time on the grandest of stages.
Colombia XI: 12 Camilo Vargas (gk); 2 Daniel Muñoz, 23 Davinson Sánchez, 3 Jhon Lucumí, 17 Johan Mojica; 14 Gustavo Puerta, 16 Jefferson Lerma; 11 Jhon Arias, 10 James Rodríguez (c), 7 Luis Díaz; 25 Luis Suárez.
DR Congo XI: 1 Lionel Mpasi (gk); 2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 22 Chancel Mbemba (c), 4 Axel Tuanzebe, 3 Steve Kapuadi, 26 Arthur Masuaku; 8 Samuel Moutoussamy, 6 Ngal’ayel Mukau, 25 Edo Kayembe; 17 Cédric Bakambu, 20 Yoane Wissa.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani
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The spotlight rightly tends to shine brightest on DR Congo attacker Yoane Wissa. But midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy is the unheralded engine of the side, as the 29-year-old showed in the draw with Portugal and was previously highlighted in the DR Congo team guide …
He never scores or assists, yet few players are more important to the side than Samuel Moutoussamy. The midfielder is the engine of Sébastien Desabre’s system: pressing, intercepting, covering spaces and recycling possession with remarkable discipline. Not spectacular but very dependable, Moutoussamy sets the emotional tone of the team through his intensity and sacrifice. “We’ll leave our souls on the pitch,” he told Leopardsfoot before the playoff against Jamaica. “We can’t play with fear.” That mentality captures perfectly the spirit of this Congolese side: resilient, combative and emotionally charged.
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Colombia once built their side around veteran James Rodríguez after his breakout World Cup in 2014. But the side now belongs to Luis Díaz and the relentless attacker was at the centre of their better moments against Uzbekistan. Find out more about Los Cafeteros’ star attraction in the Colombia team guide …
Luis Díaz arrived on the scene after the 2018 World Cup and had to wait to become Colombia’s most important player. He became a household name at the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, firing Colombia to the semi-finals with a tournament-best goal haul of four. Now 29, the former Liverpool winger has grown in maturity and was sensational for Bayern Munich this season, winning a league and cup double. “I know we have a great selección, a great team, great coaches. Qualifying was decent for us because we got some very big results,” Díaz told ESPN.
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The head-spinning permutations around the first 48-team World Cup are starting to tighten up with this the last game of the second round of group stage matches. From tomorrow, the final two matches in each group will kick-off at the same time, beginning with Switzerland v Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar, from Group B.
At this stage, there are still multiple paths for Colombia and DR Congo to each head down. Explore them all – and where the other teams might be headed – with Bracketology …
Croatia have kickstarted their World Cup campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto. After the stalemate in the England and Ghana clash earlier in the day, Group L is now one to watch closely with the placings still to be decided on the last day of group stage matches.
Here is Leander Schaerlaeckens’ match report from the game at Toronto Stadium (if nothing else, worth a read to also see a celebratory photo of Croatia veteran Luka Modric) …
On the night when a 40-year-old Luka Modric became the fourth member of the sport’s ultra-exclusive 200-cap club on the men’s side for Croatia, Ante Budimir rescued their World Cup campaign with the only goal of a tight match.
It was the solitary goal scored all day in Group L and puts Zlatko Dalic’s side a point behind England and Ghana. Panama, meanwhile, are eliminated and have yet to secure a point in five World Cup matches between the 2018 edition and this one.
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DR Congo XI
1 Lionel Mpasi (gk); 2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 22 Chancel Mbemba (c), 4 Axel Tuanzebe, 3 Steve Kapuadi, 26 Arthur Masuaku; 8 Samuel Moutoussamy, 6 Ngal’ayel Mukau, 25 Edo Kayembe; 17 Cédric Bakambu, 20 Yoane Wissa.
Coach Sébastien Desabre turns to defence again with the same 5-3-2 formation that caused all sorts of problems for Portugal in DR Congo’s first World Cup game since 1974. While DR Congo were happy for their opponents to have time on the ball in the opener, while they had only 25% possession, the Leopards still had more shots than Portugal with 8-7 attempts in a draw that earned their first World Cup point. Wissa scored the critical goal with a cool finish and will line up alongside Bakambu as DR Congo test the Colombia defensive line with their pace and tireless movement.
Colombia XI
12 Camilo Vargas (gk); 2 Daniel Muñoz, 23 Davinson Sánchez, 3 Jhon Lucumí, 17 Johan Mojica; 14 Gustavo Puerta, 16 Jefferson Lerma; 11 Jhon Arias, 10 James Rodríguez (c), 7 Luis Díaz; 25 Luis Suárez.
Coach Néstor Lorenzo sticks with the starting XI and 4-2-3-1 formation that toiled hard and eventually overcame a spirited Uzbekistan. Los Cafeteros relied on Díaz to create, assist or put away most of the opportunities in their World Cup opener, especially with veteran Rodríguez the only other prolific international goalscorer in the XI, though they will surely need more from striker Suárez against a DR Congo defence that Portugal found hard to break down.
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I’ll leave you with some final Colombian colour before reluctantly handing back over to Martin Pegan to take things from here.
The Guardian was all over the England game. Here is Jacob Steinberg’s analysis:
Plus Barney Ronay’s take on the draw:
And our player ratings:
Today’s other game was the Group I clash between England and Ghana. Thomas Tuchel’s team got a stern reality check from a dogged Ghanaian side who were happy to sit back and defend.
David Hytner was at Boston Stadium:
England’s idea was to maintain the momentum they had generated in the 4-2 win over Croatia in their opening Group L tie but there was no surge here. Only stodge. England laboured to create against an ultra-defensive Ghana team, their only pulse-quickening moments coming towards the very end.
Croatia look like they are going to hang on against Panama with only two minutes left:
An email has come through from Alejandro Borrero:
We are preparing arepas with hogao with my daughters here in Florida getting ready to see Colombia WIN! Trying to capture that homely feeling from a distance. Vamos!!
Alejandro also sent through some photographic evidence which is a bit too tricky for me to get into the blog, but I can confirm it looks delicious.
Back in Mexico, the teams have arrived at Estadio Guadalajara.
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After filing to find the back of the net in Portugal’s opening game, Ronaldo’s relief was palpable in Houston.
There have long been question marks over his continued ability to lead Portugal on this stage, but after the final whistle he shouted into a television camera: “I’m back, I’m back.”
Checking in with Group K now, and the first match today was a cracking one, including one disallowed goal that would have been in contention for best of the tournament so far.
Portugal were clinical in their 5-0 victory over Uzbekistan. As Nick Ames writes, the Asian side were “utterly unequipped” to handle the skill of Ronaldo et al.
Golden oldies fighting for the golden boot? Let us not get ahead of ourselves. But it will do Cristiano Ronaldo’s ego no harm that he is off the mark for this summer, particularly given Lionel Messi’s voracious appetite to keep long-burning fires ablaze. Nor will it pass unnoticed that he has broken a record of his own. In breaching Uzbekistan twice during the opening period of what quickly became a leisurely non-contest, Ronaldo became the first player to score in six editions of the World Cup.
It was noted yesterday that Algeria v Jordan had the San Francisco Bay Area stadium awash with red, white and green (sorry Italy). Well, from what I can see so far today, Guadalajara is a haze of a yellow, blue and red. And my goodness are these fans going all out. We love to see it!
I’d love to hear from you, wherever you are. Any Colombia or DR Congo fans out there? Let me know how you’re planning to follow the game today, and any thoughts you have on the teams. I’m at jo.khan@theguardian.com.
Thanks Martin. The other Group K match finished a few hours ago, with Ronaldo announcing that he’s back in Portugal’s 5-0 demolition of Uzbekistan. I’ll get into that match in a moment. But first, you may want to check in with the live football in Toronto where Panama and Croatia are locked in a close battle. Jeff Reuter has all the action from that one:
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the World Cup match between Colombia and DR Congo at Estadio Guadalajara. Kick-off in this Group K game is 8pm local/11pm EDT/3am BST/12pm AEST.
Colombia are out to book their place in the knockouts after opening their World Cup campaign with a victory over Uzbekistan. Daniel Muñoz’s stunning strike sparked Colombia but they needed a moment of brilliance from Luis Díaz to reclaim the lead after Uzbekistan levelled in the second half. Jaminton Campaz nodded home the sealer deep into stoppage time. Another win today in Guadalajara would leave top spot in Group K in Colombia’s own hands before a meeting with Portugal in Miami.
DR Congo also impressed when earning their first-ever World Cup point in their opener against the highly fancied Portugal. A breakthrough win over Colombia would all but ensure their campaign continues into the round of 32, while another point would leave them well-placed ahead of their clash with Uzbekistan. Veteran attacker Cédric Bakambu rose to the occasion with an hearty performance but it was Yoane Wissa who levelled on the cusp of half-time before DR Congo frustrated Portugal with a deep-lying defence.
I’ll be back later with the line-ups then the live action. In the meantime, Jo Khan is here with all the buildup and the latest from the World Cup. Get in touch with any questions, thoughts and predictions. You can shoot Jo an email. Let’s get into it!
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