England take on DR Congo in the round of 32, and the indications are that they will face a familiar obstacle. After impressing against Croatia, especially in the second half, Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled to break down Ghana and Panama, both of whom set up to frustrate. Congo have applied similar strategies and have been rewarded with a place in the knockout stages. I am backing England to break down Sébastien Desabre’s side and, although it is unlikely to be pretty, I expect them to do the job in 90 minutes, and my 3/1 bet builder reflects this line of thinking.
TL;DR – England vs DR Congo Betting Tips
| Market | Odds at Betfred | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Match Result: England to Win | 2/7 | 1 |
| Under 3.5 Goals | 4/11 | 1 |
| Over 8.5 Corners | 8/15 | 1 |
| Samuel Moutoussamy 2+ Fouls | 4/9 | 1.5 |
| Bet Builder | 3.17/1 | 1 |
Odds correct at 13:00 BST on 29th June 2026. Odds subject to change.
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EXPIRING:
19/07/2026
Match Result: England to Win
England struggled to break down both Ghana and Panama, who both sat deep. Ghana were especially impressive and deservedly took a point. I expect a similar approach from DR Congo, who are likely to operate with a back five when defending. England had 51.7% possession against Croatia and, against a side who wanted to keep possession and were prepared to, at times, press, the Three Lions had 11 shots on target from 22, an xG of 2.8 and came away with four goals. In the goalless draw with Ghana, despite having 78.9% possession, England’s xG was 1.29 with a paltry three shots on target from 19. The Panama game was slightly better stats-wise, but it was a similar pattern.
I expect Congo to frustrate England and hit them on the break. This served them well against Portugal, and their approach was similar in their 1-0 loss to Colombia. I think that England will have worked on a solution to this issue and, while it might be attritional rather than free-flowing, I expect them to have too much for their opponents and find a way to win.
Under 3.5 Goals
While I am tipping England to win without extra time or penalties, I am not expecting a goal-fest. DR Congo are solid at the back and are unlikely to give much away, especially if they set their stall out to contain. I considered going for under 2.5 goals but decided to err on the side of caution. Five of England’s last six games and 14 of Congo’s last 15 internationals have seen less than four goals. In the World Cup group stage, 67% of matches for both teams had under 3.5 goals.
Over 8.5 Corners
Mainly due to the conditions, the corner count at this World Cup has been on the low side. However, our Kickform stats show that 100% of England’s games and 67% of DR Congo’s matches have exceeded 8.5 corners. This was the case in both of England’s pre-tournament friendlies and in one of Congo’s, with the other failing by one. I am backing at least nine flag kicks in this one.
Samuel Moutoussamy 2+ Fouls
Midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy is a hardworking player who shields the defence really well. He has made nine tackles across the group stages, but he also racks up a few fouls. He has averaged 2.21 fouls per 90 minutes during the World Cup, and last season in the Greek Super League he committed 0.96 fouls per 90 minutes. Given that Elliot Anderson, another player not shy of a tackle or a foul, has won eight fouls and that Jude Bellingham has been fouled five times so far this tournament, I am confident that Mountoussamy will make a couple of fouls on Wednesday. The World Cup betting odds of 4/9 mean that it is a worthwhile addition to the bet builder.
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England vs DR Congo Odds
Check out the latest odds for the match with the top UK bookmakers.
