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A reminder of how England made their way through Group L. They weren’t the best of times, neither were they the worst of times.
Number four in the Fifa rankings plays number 41 … and then when you factor in the roll-call of talent England boast, they’re winning this game more often than not. But hold on! This round has already thrown up one shock, with Paraguay (world number 41 at the time) condemning Germany (number 10) to their first spot-kick defeat since the days of Antonín Panenka. DR Congo have already held Portugal (world number five at the time) to a draw at this World Cup, and given Colombia (number 11) a good game. And taking everything in the round, the Democratic Republic of the Congo are betting with house money today, kind of, because …
Whatever happens against Thomas Tuchel’s team, this World Cup has already been a success. Not just because the Leopards made it to the last 32. It is also because, for a few weeks, football reminded millions of people that, despite war, division, politics and history, they still belong to the same story: a shared DRC.
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