Colombia vs DR Congo – Match preview and team news
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1 / 1Colombia and DR congo meet at the Guadalajara Stadium on Wednesday, on the back of their impressive Round 1 results
Colombia sits atop the Group K table while DR Congo is motivated after securing their first point in the first match of their campaign.
AdvertisementAdvertisementColombia vs DR Congo – Match preview and team news
Date: Wednesday, 24th June.
Kick-off: 3am BST.
Venue: Guadalajara Stadium, Zapopan, Mexico.
Colombia team news
Colombia comes into this match with a completely healthy 26-man roster. Manager Nestor Lorenzo has no new injuries or suspensions to worry about ahead of Tuesday night.
He will likely use the same starting eleven that won against Uzbekistan. The South Americans will setup in a sharp 4-3-3 formation.
Star winger Luis Diaz will lead the offense from the left side. Veteran playmaker James Rodriguez will pull the strings in midfield.
Luis Suarez will act as the main target striker up front. This potent attacking trio will look to break down a stubborn defensive block.
AdvertisementAdvertisementMeanwhile, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Rios will anchor the midfield to control possession. Daniel Munoz and Johan Mojica will provide width from the fullback positions.
Lorenzo wants his team to control the ball while keeping a close eye on dangerous counter-attacks.
DR Congo team news
DR Congo also enters this crucial fixture with a completely clean bill of health. Manager Sebastien Desabre confirmed that all his players are fit and available.
The Leopards are highly motivated after an impressive draw against Portugal. They will likely setup in a defensive 5-3-2 formation to frustrate the favorites.
AdvertisementAdvertisementVeteran forward Cedric Bakambu will partner with star attacker Yoane Wissa upfront.
Wissa scored the famous equalizer in their last match and is in great form. Premier League fullback Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Lens fullback Arthur Masuaku will guard the flanks.
They will also look to sprint forward on quick counter-attacks. Chancel Mbemba will captain the side and organize the five-man defensive line.
Samuel Moutoussamy will fight to disrupt the rhythm of the opposition midfield. Desabre wants his team to stay compact, soak up pressure, and strike fast.
Form
Colombia
Colombia is in exceptional form, carrying momentum from a stellar buildup into the tournament. They opened their World Cup Group K campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan, placing them at the top of the group.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBefore the tournament, Los Cafeteros secured consecutive warm-up wins, defeating Jordan 2-0 and Costa Rica 3-1 in June friendlies. Their solitary recent setbacks came in narrow friendly defeats to European powerhouses Croatia and France back in March.
DR Congo
DR Congo enters the fixture high on confidence after orchestrating a major tournament upset, holding European giants Portugal to a historic 1-1 draw in their opening match. The Leopards showed immense resilience to qualify for the tournament, defeating Jamaica 1-0 in extra time during the intercontinental play-offs.
While their friendly form ahead of the tournament was mixed—including a 0-0 draw against Denmark and a 2-1 loss to Chile—their defensive solidity remains highly formidable.
AdvertisementAdvertisementPredicted lineups
Colombia: Vargas; Munoz, Sanchez, Lucumi, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Suarez
DR Congo: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Kayembe; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Bongonda, Bakambu, Wissa
How to watch Colombia vs DR Congo?
The Colombia vs. DR Congo World Cup match will be broadcast live and completely free-to-air on ITV1 and STV in the UK.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
