Pre-matchWednesday, June 24

Los Cafeteros Eye First Place as Pool Backs Colombia Over Stubborn Leopards

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Colombia can clinch a Round of 16 berth and potentially top spot in Group K with a win over DR Congo, and 58 of 74 poolies expect them to deliver in what the bookies call a heavily one-sided affair.

The market makes Colombia overwhelming favourites, and the pool agrees: 58 of you backed Los Cafeteros, while only 4 brave souls took a punt on the Leopards — with 12 hedging on the draw.

The stakes: Round of 16 on the line

Colombia sit second on three points after their opening 3-1 victory, two behind Portugal's perfect four from two. DR Congo earned a creditable 1-1 draw in their opener and remain mathematically alive on a single point. A Colombian win would guarantee passage to the knockouts with a match to spare, and depending on Portugal's result against Uzbekistan, could even hand them control of the group. For the Leopards, anything less than a win leaves their fate hanging on the final matchday — and given Uzbekistan's minus-seven goal difference, this represents their best remaining chance for points.

Team news and the tactical battle

Colombia will look to their creative spine — James Rodríguez pulling strings in midfield and Luis Díaz providing width and pace — to unlock a Congo side that showed defensive organization in holding their opening opponents level. The Leopards will need striker Cédric Bakambu, their most experienced attacker, to capitalize on any transition moments, though Colombia's superior technical quality and tournament pedigree make the South Americans clear favourites to control possession and tempo. Expect Los Cafeteros to dominate the ball and press for an early breakthrough, while Congo sit compact and look to frustrate.

What the odds say

The betting markets reflect the gulf in class and recent form: Colombia are heavily favoured to collect all three points in what bookmakers view as the most lopsided fixture of Matchday 2 in Group K. The pool's collective wisdom mirrors that confidence — 22 of you plumped for a 2-1 Colombia win, 16 went for 2-0, and the overall tally of 58 home picks dwarfs the four optimists backing an upset. If the Leopards are to roar, they'll need to defy both the odds and nearly the entire pool.

▸Sources (32)