Congo DR stumble against Chile, Portugal up next

Last test, missed chance

Congo DR fell 2–1 to Chile in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Not the send-off you wanted, especially with the unbeaten run of three games now snapped (1) (2). Chile's Darío Osorio and Sepúlveda scored either side of a Joris Kayembe goal, with Mpasi in goal for Congo DR (1). The match was played Tuesday in Orleans, France.

Portugal looms – Group K opener

Your World Cup opener against Portugal is set for Wednesday, June 17, in Houston. That's seven days away. This Chile friendly was supposed to be the dress rehearsal. Now the coaching staff has a week to fix what went wrong before facing a Portugal side that won't offer second chances (2).

Ebola outbreak derailed preparation

This friendly was originally scheduled for La Línea de la Concepción in Spain, but local authorities banned it. The reason: an Ebola outbreak back home. The Congolese government reported 101 deaths and 550 confirmed cases as of last Monday. The match was moved to Orleans, France instead (1) (2) (3).

The world is already writing you off

Marca didn't mince words. They say Chile left Congo DR \"tocada\" – wounded – heading into the Portugal match. The Spanish outlet framed this as a real psychological blow. Fair or not, the outside perception is that your team is on the back foot (4).

Fan reactions

Reddit's World Cup community has been asking about rivalries and what fuels them ahead of the tournament. One thread from the Know Rivalry Project has Congo DR fans reflecting on what this World Cup means. The mood? Pride mixed with concern after Tuesday's result. Join the discussion here.