Colombia seek second World Cup win as DR Congo eye another upset

Colombia seeks to build on their opening World Cup victory when they face DR Congo on Tuesday. Coach Nestor Lorenzo's side, fresh off a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan, is aware of DR Congo's potential to frustrate opponents, as demonstrated in their draw with Portugal.

Despite the scoreline against Uzbekistan, Colombia experienced a challenging second half where their defensive weaknesses were highlighted. A victory against DR Congo would secure Colombia a spot in the Round of 32 and could potentially clinch the top spot in Group K if Portugal falters against Uzbekistan. The team will again rely on Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz, who was instrumental in the first match with a goal and an assist. Captain James Rodriguez is expected to play a more influential role after a quieter performance in the opener.

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Congo play more in transition, with long balls and quick breaks. It's going to be a very difficult match for us

DR Congo arrives with momentum, having secured a historic 1-1 draw against Portugal in their first World Cup appearance in over 50 years. Yoane Wissa scored their first-ever World Cup goal, and coach Sebastien Desabre's team impressed with their disciplined defense and effective counter-attacks against a favored opponent.

Coach Lorenzo anticipates a tactical challenge, warning that DR Congo's direct style and transition play will pose a different threat than Uzbekistan's. He noted that Colombia's dominance in possession at times led to a lack of clinical finishing. The team expects strong support from Colombian fans, who transformed the Estadio Azteca into a home-like atmosphere during their first match.

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At times our excess possession made us go backwards and nobody finished the move. We lacked a bit of that