ATLANTA, July 3 -- For the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is no context in which to place this match, because there has never been a match like it. The Leopards are making their first appearance in a World Cup knockout stage in history, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Wednesday, against one of the tournament's most decorated nations. The occasion is the point. What England do with it is the question.

England are -335 favorites, with Opta's supercomputer calculating a 73.9 percent probability of a Three Lions win in regulation. The numbers are not wrong. Harry Kane, at 11 World Cup goals and counting, is -150 to score anytime. Jude Bellingham is the most technically complete central midfielder in the draw. Declan Rice has oper...