Texas [US], June 17 (ANI): DR Congo head coach Sebastien Desabre has stated that his team must handle the pressure of their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match against Portugal, emphasizing that they will play with courage and controlled risk in the high-stakes encounter.
Managing Pressure and Taking Risks
Speaking ahead of the match, Desabre highlighted that the biggest challenge for his players would be coping with the pressure of the opening fixture. However, he insisted there would be no fear when they step onto the field.
“What we have to do is to deal with the pressure, the pressure of the first game,” he said, as quoted by Reuters.
Desabre added that DR Congo would not shy away from taking calculated risks while maintaining tactical discipline.
“I want my team to play, so we’ll take risks. Those risks will be measured. There’s no fear ahead of those big events,” Desabre said.
Playing to Their Strengths
The DR Congo coach further noted that his side would rely on their strengths and adhere to their identity against one of the tournament favorites.
“We also have a great strength that we’ll be using on the pitch, and we’re going to get started with our own specific style of play, and we are, of course, highly motivated. We are excited to play against such a big team,” he added.
Support from the Nation
Desabre also spoke about the expectations from fans back home, highlighting the massive support from the country.
“There are different options. We will start with one option... and based on the balance of power, we’ll see. We have 100 million Congolese people who will be watching us. Of course, we want to perform well. We want to show courage. And we’ll do our best on the pitch,” he said.
The Upcoming Clash
DR Congo will begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, in their opening Group stage match on Wednesday (as per Indian Standard Time).
Portugal has yet to win the FIFA World Cup, with their best result coming in 1966 when they finished third. However, they enter the tournament with a strong squad, featuring players like Bruno Fernandes, who is coming off an excellent season with Manchester United. (ANI)
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