Former Zambia international Rainford Kalaba believes England will face one of their toughest tests yet when they take on DR Congo, insisting the Leopards have nothing to fear because the majority of their squad is made up of players competing in Europe.
Kalaba, who enjoyed a successful spell with Congolese giants TP Mazembe and is now part of the club’s technical bench, said the confidence within the DR Congo camp has grown significantly following the team’s impressive run to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.
Speaking on ZNBC Radio 4’s Sports Day Show, the former Chipolopolo midfielder said the Congolese supporters are fully behind their team and believe they are capable of causing a major upset against England.
“The atmosphere is very high because everyone is behind the team. They did not believe they could go this far, but now they have given the supporters confidence that they can surprise England,” Kalaba said.
He attributed DR Congo’s strong performances to the experience of their players, most of whom ply their trade in Europe.
“Most of the players play in Europe, so they understand the mentality of European players. It is not easy for European teams to beat the Congolese side because they are used to playing at that level. They are calm and there is no pressure on them,” he explained.
Kalaba also praised the overall performance of African teams at the tournament, singling out DR Congo, Morocco and Senegal for their resilience on the global stage.
“I give a lot of credit to the African teams because no one gave them much chance of going this far. They have shown great character and determination,” he said.
It’s unpredictable – Kalaba
The former midfielder further highlighted Cape Verde as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, attributing their success to the inclusion of players born and developed in Europe.
“Even Cape Verde has surprised me. Their domestic league is not among the strongest, but they have brought in professional players from Europe to represent their country. They have shown great spirit and character,” Kalaba noted.
He added that the unpredictable nature of the tournament has demonstrated that no result can be taken for granted until the final whistle.
“At this World Cup, the results have been surprising. You only know who has won after 90 minutes because every team is giving everything for their country,” Kalaba said.
England will face DR Congo at 18:00 CAT this evening in the Round of 32.
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