Pre-matchSaturday, June 27

Leopards vs. White Wolves: A Scrap for Scraps at the Bottom of Group K

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DR Congo and Uzbekistan meet in a dead-rubber-that-isn't — both sides need a win to keep alive any hope of sneaking through as one of the tournament's best third-place finishers, with the Léopards holding the decisive edge in quality and recent form.

The pool is right to back the Léopards — 37 of 71 pickers went DR Congo, with 10 brave souls on Uzbekistan — and the bookmakers agree, making Congo clear favourites in what amounts to a must-win for the White Wolves.

What's at Stake: The Third-Place Lottery Ticket

Colombia are through as Group K winners (6 pts, perfect record) and Portugal are almost certainly going through in second (4 pts, GD +5). That leaves DR Congo (1 pt, GD -1) and Uzbekistan (0 pts, GD -7) fighting over a consolation prize that could still be worth something. With 48 teams and 12 groups, eight of the twelve third-place finishers advance — meaning even a third-place finish with the right points tally could see you through. For Congo, a win likely gets them to 4 points and puts them firmly in the conversation. For Uzbekistan, only a win with a big margin even begins to repair that catastrophic goal difference. A draw leaves Congo with 2 points and likely sends both home. The maths are brutal but not entirely hopeless — if you squint.

Team News and Expected Lineups

DR Congo arrive having drawn their opener before a narrow defeat, showing enough quality through the pace of Théo Bongonda and the creative thrust of Yoane Wissa to suggest they can hurt a depleted Uzbekistan side. Wissa, in superb Premier League form for Brentford before this tournament, is the man the Léopards will lean on. Uzbekistan, meanwhile, have been overwhelmed in both matches — that -7 goal difference tells its own story — and coach Srecko Katanec faces a near-impossible task of patching together a side that can compete physically and defensively. The White Wolves lack the individual quality to trouble a motivated Congo backline, and their forwards have been largely anonymous. Expect Congo to set up with disciplined defensive width and look to exploit the flanks on the counter.

The Key Matchup: Congo's Pace vs. Uzbekistan's Exposed Defence

The chess match here is relatively straightforward: can Wissa and Bongonda — two attackers built for Premier League intensity — tear through a White Wolves back four that has been ripped apart across Matchdays 1 and 2? Uzbekistan's defensive structure has crumbled under pressure, and Congo have the tools to replicate that damage. The real tactical question is whether Congo's coach keeps things tight and professional or goes for the throat in search of the goal difference padding that could matter when the best third-place table is calculated. Given the stakes, expect an attacking intent that the pool's 29 votes for a 1-0 scoreline might slightly underestimate.

What the Odds Say — and What the Pool Says

Bookmakers have DR Congo as clear favourites for this fixture, reflecting both the talent gap and the motivational edge — Congo have something to play for, Uzbekistan are mathematically in the dark. The pool tracks the market reasonably well: 37 backing the Léopards, 24 opting for a draw (reflecting a cautious read on two limited sides), and just 10 brave or eccentric souls backing the White Wolves. The most popular scoreline — 1-0 to Congo with 29 votes — is sensible but perhaps conservative. If Wissa is on song, this could get away from Uzbekistan quickly. The real outlier pick to watch: those 4 people who went 0-0. They may know something about the limitations of both attacks, but they're betting against a Congo side with genuine reason to push.

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