Published Jun 8, 1:47pm ET by
Demilade Adelekun - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 8, 1:47pm ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 8, 1:47pm ET
Colombia and Congo DR meet on matchday 2 of Group K at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, with both sides coming off their opening fixtures against Uzbekistan and Portugal respectively.
Luis Díaz leads Colombia's attack after his move to Bayern Munich, arriving as one of the most dangerous wide forwards in this tournament.
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|
|---|---|
| CONGO DR | +500 |
| DRAW | +310 |
| COLOMBIA | -195 |
Luis Díaz scored against Brazil in CONMEBOL qualifying and was the difference in Colombia's Copa América run to the 2024 final. At Bayern Munich this season he has operated at the highest level in European football. He is known for cutting inside from the left onto his stronger foot and creating chances the way only a handful of forwards in the world can. James Rodríguez is 34 and playing in MLS. However, he trained with the national squad from May 13 and arrived in camp sharp. At his best (and he has been close to that in recent Colombia camps) he is still the best number ten in South American football. Richard Ríos runs the double pivot from Benfica alongside Jefferson Lerma at Crystal Palace. They give Colombia genuine defensive structure behind the creative pair.
Davinson Sánchez anchors the back line from Galatasaray, bringing the physicality and reading of the game Colombia need against Congo DR's pace on the counter. Daniel Muñoz overlaps from right back at Crystal Palace, providing the width that lets Díaz come inside and create. This is a Colombia side built to attack, and against a Congo DR squad returning to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years, they have the quality to do it from the first whistle.
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Congo DR haven't been at a World Cup since 1974 as Zaire. When there, they lost all three group games and conceded 14 goals. This squad is a different proposition. Yoane Wissa leads the attack from Brentford. He is direct and physical, with 14 Premier League goals this season. Chancel Mbemba anchors the defence after years in the Champions League with Porto and Marseille. Cédric Bakambu adds experience up front, and Théo Bongonda brings pace from the flanks.
Coach Sébastien Desabre has built a compact, organized side that qualifies without losing many games. Their best moments come in transition, where Wissa and Bongonda can punish a high defensive line. Against Colombia's pressing structure, finding those transition moments requires patience and discipline for 90 minutes. They have enough to make this uncomfortable. They don't have enough to win.
Díaz in the kind of form he showed at Bayern Munich against a Congo DR side making their first World Cup appearance in over 50 years. James pulls the strings in behind. Colombia presses high, and their quality in the final third is the edge. We're backing Colombia -195.
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Pick
Colombia -195
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