3 min DR Congo fashion their first attack. Wissa, the goal-scorer against Portugal, drops deep to collect before trying his luck from range, but he drags his shot well wide.
1 min After a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquakes in Venezuela, we’re off and running. Uzbekistan kick off and are attacking from left to right in their all-white kits, while DR Congo go from right to left in the all-red strips.
And the White Wolves are down the pitch in a flash where Shomurodov fires it into the back of the net after all of 21 seconds … but the offside flag is up. Warning shot, fired.
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The players have emerged from the tunnel at Atlanta Stadium. It’s anthem time, first Debout Congolais, then Oʻzbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi. We should be under way shortly.
Both sides need a result, but neither arrives in free-scoring form: DR Congo have one goal from games against Portugal and Colombia, while Uzbekistan have scored once and conceded eight.
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It’s been a golden year for Uzbek sport. The White Wolves have reached the World Cup for the first time and still have a mathematical shot at the knockout stage entering tonight’s group-stage finale, while the 20-year-old grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has earned a title shot against India's Gukesh Dommaraju in the world chess championship later this year. For a nation of 37m, it’s been quite a few months.
Croatia’s 2-1 win over Ghana means Scotland have been officially eliminated from the World Cup.
Did you hear two other games are in progress? Have a look here.
Team news
DR Congo switch to a more attacking setup for their must-win finale, bringing in Brian Cipenga as Steve Kapuadi drops out. Uzbekistan make four changes after their 5-0 defeat to Portugal, with Khojiakbar Alijonov, Jakhongir Urozov, Akmal Mozgovoy and Dostonbek Khamdamov all coming into the starting XI.
DR Congo (4-4-2) M’Pasi-Nzau; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba (c), Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Moutoussamy, Sadiki, Mbuku, Cipenga; Wissa, Bakambu
Subs Fayulu, Epolo, Kapuadi, Batubinsika, Mukau, Bongonda, Kakuta, Joris Kayembe, Elia, Tshibola, Pickel, Mayele, Banza, Kalulu, Edo Kayembe.
Uzbekistan (5-4-1) Nematov; Nasrullaye, Ashurmatov, Urozov, Khusanov, Alizhonov; Fayzullaev, Shukurov, Mozgovoy, Khamdamov; Shomurodov (c)
Subs Yusupov, Ergashev, Sayfiev, Iskanderov, Hamrobekov, Jiyanov, Urunov, Eshmurodov, Abdullayev, Ganiev, Amonov, Sergeev, Esanov, Karimov, Ulmasaliev.
Referee Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Some pre-match recommended reading: Enjoy Jonathan O’Brien’s celebration of six forgotten World Cup classics. There are solo runs, thunderbolts, audacious lobs and one exquisite Quagliarella chip. Guaranteed to improve your day (or night).
Preamble
For DR Congo, the equation could hardly be simpler. Beat Uzbekistan tonight in Atlanta and the Leopards will almost certainly reach the knockout stage, either by snatching second place or, more likely, as one of the World Cup’s best third-placed teams.
The stakes have resonated far beyond the dressing room. Ahead of kick-off, President Félix Tshisekedi issued an emotional message urging the nation to rally behind the team.
“This encounter is not just a football match. It is a moment of national unity,” Tshisekedi wrote. “Behind you, there will be more than 100 million Congolese people ... all united behind you.”
It is a remarkable position for a side playing at its first World Cup since 1974, when the country competed as Zaire. Just reaching this tournament required surviving the African playoffs after missing out on direct qualification.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan are clinging to the faintest of hopes. They have lost both of their opening matches and can finish no higher than third, meaning only a victory will suffice. Even then, their goal difference of -7 leaves the White Wolves needing not only a convincing win but plenty of help from elsewhere if they are to sneak into the last 32.
The other Group K match sees already-qualified Colombia take on Portugal, with top spot on the line. Colombia need only a draw to finish first.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Portugal | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 3 | Congo DR | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 4 | Uzbekistan | 2 | -7 | 0 |
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s at look at who needs what as the group stage tilts toward its conclusion:
Who are through to the last 32?
Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, USA, Australia, Paraguay, Germany, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Cape Verde, France, Norway, Senegal, Argentina, Colombia, Portugal, England and Ghana.
Who have been eliminated?
Czechia, Qatar, Haiti, Turkey, Curaçao, Tunisia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Panama.
How does the third-place qualification work?
The eight best third-placed teams qualify for the last 32 based on a ranking that, in order, takes into account: points, goal difference (GD), goals scored, fair-play status (conduct) and Fifa ranking. Four points will now be enough to qualify, given results so far.
Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Senegal are through to the last 32, as they are guaranteed to finish among the eight best-ranked third-placed teams. Uruguay are eliminated as they can not finish among the top-eight third-place teams.
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