DR Congo targeting victory, not a draw, in decisive fixture with Uzbekistan

The upcoming fixture marks the final round of matches in Group K, where both teams are desperate for a positive result to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.

Reflecting on his team's journey in the tournament so far, Desabre noted that facing two of the group's heavyweight contenders, Portugal and Colombia – both of whom sit high in the global rankings – provided invaluable experience for his players. However, the manager emphasized that the dynamic changes entirely for the third round.

Desabre acknowledged that the final group fixture demands a completely different tactical approach, requiring his team to take far more risks on the pitch than they did in their opening two matches because walking away with just a single point will not satisfy their tournament objectives.

The French tactician expressed deep respect for the tactical setup of their Central Asian opponents, warning that the Uzbek squad boasts an excellent defensive line and understands how to maintain a highly disciplined back four. Despite the defensive challenge, Desabre remained confident, asserting that his players know exactly what they traveled to the World Cup to achieve and will leave everything on the pitch in what has effectively become a knockout match for them.

The current standings in Group K place Colombia at the top of the table with a perfect six points, followed closely by Portugal with four points. The DR Congo currently sits in third place with a single point, while Uzbekistan has yet to secure a point following narrow defeats in their opening two matches.

The stakes remain exceptionally high as both lower-ranked sides battle specifically for a third-place finish, which could potentially see them through to the next phase depending on calculations across other groups. The critical encounter is scheduled to kick off on June 28 at 04:30 Tashkent time at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.