Former West Bromwich Albion favourite Youssouf Mulumbu has detailed the tactical approach DR Congo must adopt to shock England in the upcoming World Cup encounter. The 37-year-old, who made over 200 appearances for the Baggies, believes that defensive organisation and exploiting set-pieces are key to overcoming Gareth Southgate's side.
Defensive Solidity as the Foundation
Mulumbu, capped 35 times by DR Congo, emphasised that his national team must remain compact and disciplined without the ball. "England have world-class attackers like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, so we cannot afford to give them space," he said. "We need to stay narrow and force them wide, then rely on our centre-backs to win aerial duels."
The former midfielder highlighted the importance of a low block, a strategy that has troubled England in past tournaments. "If we can keep the game tight for 60 or 70 minutes, the crowd and pressure will build on England. That's when we can strike."
Set-Pieces: DR Congo's Route to Goal
Mulumbu pointed to set-pieces as DR Congo's best chance of scoring. "We have tall, powerful players like Chancel Mbemba and Gaël Kakuta who are dangerous from corners and free-kicks. England have sometimes been vulnerable from dead-ball situations, as we saw in the last World Cup."
He added that DR Congo's coaching staff have been drilling specific routines. "We have been working on movements to unsettle England's zonal marking. It only takes one moment of hesitation for us to score."
Counter-Attacking Threat
While defending deep, Mulumbu stressed the need for rapid transitions. "On the counter, we have pace with players like Yoane Wissa and Cédric Bakambu. If we can win the ball and release them quickly, we can exploit the space behind England's full-backs."
The former Paris Saint-Germain academy product also noted the importance of midfield runners. "I've told the younger midfielders to time their runs from deep. England's midfield can be caught out if we move the ball fast."
Experience and Mentality
Mulumbu, who also played for Norwich City and Kilmarnock, stressed that DR Congo must believe they can win. "In football, anything is possible. We saw that with Morocco in the last World Cup. If we have the right mentality and execute our game plan, we can cause an upset."
He recalled his own experiences facing top teams. "When I played for West Brom against Manchester United or Arsenal, we knew we had to be perfect tactically. It's the same for DR Congo now. We have to be clinical and disciplined."
England's Weaknesses to Exploit
Mulumbu identified potential vulnerabilities in Southgate's setup. "England sometimes struggle against teams that sit deep and hit them on the break. They also can be impatient when they don't score early. If we frustrate them, we can force errors."
He also mentioned the pressure on England's young players. "Players like Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are incredible, but they are still young. The World Cup brings immense pressure. We need to make the game uncomfortable for them."
A Historic Opportunity
DR Congo have never reached the knockout stages of a World Cup, but Mulumbu believes this squad has the potential to make history. "This is a golden generation for us. We have players in top European leagues and a strong team spirit. Beating England would be the biggest achievement in our football history."
He concluded: "We respect England, but we don't fear them. On our day, we can beat anyone. The whole nation will be behind us, and we will give everything."
