ENGLAND boss Thomas Tuchel said the tournament starts again with the conclusion of the group stage.
If that’s the case, then England’s 2026 World Cup campaign will begin soon in Atlanta.
Tuchel selected Djed Spence at right back in the absence of injured pair Reece James and Jarell Quansah.
Elsewhere, Declan Rice came back into the starting XI after recovering from a calf issue, while Noni Madueke replaced Bukayo Saka on the right wing.
Marcus Rashford kept his place on the left side of attack.
England have the quality to compete and make the final. If you look at the generation of players they have, maybe you can ask some questions about some players that were left out of the squad but they still have very good players.
When you look at the French, they are the most talented squad at this World Cup. But just because you are the most talented squad does not mean you are going to win the tournament.
When you look at Argentina we describe them as a pack wolves because there’s a togetherness in that squad that you will not see anywhere else. we would say the French are slowly starting to get the but there’s a unity that Argentina have that is greater than any other team.
The round of 32 has already seen Paraguay shock Germany with a penalty shootout win, and Morocco overcame the Netherlands the same way.
Desabre was asked if his players have practised spot kicks.
“We practise penalties because we are professional, and it’s one possibility to win the game with a penalty,” he replied.
“We worked on that, and we won against Nigeria [in qualifying] on penalties. Also, we won in Egypt in, not the last AFCON, but in the AFCON in the Ivory Coast, and we have a lot of possibilities for penalties.”
ANALYSIS:
England may head into this knockout clash as favourites, but they should not expect an easy afternoon against a disciplined and well-drilled DR Congo side that has already shown it can frustrate stronger opponents.
DR Congo’s route to the knockout stage has been built on defensive organisation and tactical discipline. They had less than 30 per cent possession in their opening two Group K matches, yet still earned a crucial goalless draw against Portugal, a result that ultimately proved decisive in securing qualification.
In their final group match, a victory over Uzbekistan, head coach Sebastien Desabre switched to a more adventurous 4-4-2 system featuring two attacking wingers. Desabre, affectionately nicknamed “The Florist” for his reputation of helping young players blossom, once again found success with his tactical flexibility.
However, against England, expectations are that DR Congo will revert to their trusted back-five system—the same approach that frustrated Portugal—before looking to hurt Thomas Tuchel’s side through quick counter-attacks.
Although Yoane Wissa has endured an underwhelming season at Newcastle, he remains a dangerous outlet in transition. England must also keep a close eye on Sunderland midfielder Noah Sadiki, whose energy and movement could become influential if DR Congo find opportunities to break.
The contest is likely to resemble England’s previous two matches, with DR Congo aiming to deny space, slow the tempo and make every attacking opportunity difficult for Tuchel’s men.
England’s challenge will be finding ways to stretch the Congolese defence. Quick circulation of the ball, faster attacking tempo and creating one-on-one situations for their wide players will be essential if they are to unlock such a compact defensive structure.
Ultimately, though, knockout football is about progression rather than perfection. England’s primary objective will simply be finding a way through, regardless of how attractive the performance may be.
One area that remains a concern for England is the lack of settled combinations on both flanks. The left and right sides have continually changed throughout the tournament.
Whether on the wings or at full-back, players have constantly had to adapt to new partnerships. Injuries and tactical adjustments have forced Tuchel into repeated changes across the back four, preventing the defence from developing consistency.
That instability has occasionally been exposed when England have lost possession and been hit on the counter-attack. Against stronger opposition, those moments could easily have been punished, and DR Congo will undoubtedly attempt to exploit similar vulnerabilities.
Despite their defensive reputation, DR Congo defend in a surprisingly proactive manner.
Rather than parking the bus inside their own penalty area, they usually position their defensive line between 30 and 40 yards from goal, showing a willingness to engage opponents much higher up the pitch.
Throughout the tournament they have consistently lined up in a 5-3-2 formation, maintaining the same structure both in and out of possession.
Their average possession stands at just 38.8 per cent—far below England’s impressive 65.7 per cent, which trails only Spain’s tournament-leading 70.3 per cent. On paper, those numbers suggest a defence-first team relying almost exclusively on counter-attacks.
While that description is largely accurate, it does not fully capture how aggressively DR Congo defend.
Against both Portugal and Colombia, two teams that dominated possession—DR Congo pressed high from goal-kick situations rather than retreating into deep defensive positions.
Even from their defensive block, they generally hold a higher line than most teams with such limited possession, resisting the temptation to defend permanently on the edge of their own penalty area.
There is also a clear emphasis on immediate pressure. The player in possession is quickly closed down, with nearby teammates joining to compress space and force mistakes.
These proactive defensive habits create both strengths and weaknesses. While they make DR Congo difficult to play against, they also provide England with opportunities to exploit the spaces left behind.
From opposition goal-kicks, DR Congo’s tactical approach is particularly aggressive. Their two forwards and three midfielders push high to press the goalkeeper, centre-backs and holding midfielder.
Meanwhile, the wing-backs jump forward to close down the opposition full-backs, leaving the three centre-backs isolated in one-on-one situations against opposing attackers.
In effect, DR Congo are prepared to defend man-to-man across almost the entire pitch—a strategy that could actually suit England.
Although the pressure has the potential to force defensive mistakes, England’s squad is filled with players accustomed to facing intense pressing every week in the Premier League. Tuchel will be confident that their technical quality can withstand the pressure.
One area where England could gain a decisive advantage is through the use of their full-backs in deeper positions during the build-up.
By positioning the full-backs lower, DR Congo’s wing-backs are forced to cover greater distances before engaging, giving England valuable extra time on the ball.
That scenario could see England return to attacking down both flanks through what Tuchel describes as his “wide units”—the coordinated rotations between the full-back, central midfielder and winger.
If those combinations function effectively, they can pull DR Congo’s defenders out of position, create overloads in wide areas and expose one of the few tactical weaknesses in an otherwise disciplined defensive system.
The tactical battle may ultimately come down to patience. England will dominate possession, while DR Congo will remain organised, press aggressively at key moments and wait for opportunities to counter. If England move the ball quickly enough and exploit the wide areas consistently, they should eventually create the openings needed to progress. If not, DR Congo have already shown throughout this tournament that they are more than capable of dragging elite opponents into an uncomfortable, hard-fought knockout contest.
PREDICTIONS:
Sadiq’s Prediction: England’s superior technical quality and dominance in possession should eventually wear down DR Congo’s disciplined back five. Thomas Tuchel’s side averages 65.7% possession and has the players to stretch compact defences through quick switches of play and overlapping full-backs.
If the “wide units” function effectively, space will eventually open up for the likes of the wingers to create chances. DR Congo’s aggressive man-to-man pressing may trouble England early, but over 90 minutes England’s depth and ball circulation should prove decisive.
My Prediction: England 3-1 DR Congo
Peter’s Prediction: This has all the ingredients of a tight knockout encounter. DR Congo have already frustrated Portugal with a goalless draw and will likely return to their disciplined 5-3-2 system, sitting compact before breaking quickly through Yoane Wissa and Noah Sadiki.
England may dominate possession without creating many clear-cut chances, but one moment of quality from their attacking players could settle the contest. Patience rather than flair may be England’s biggest weapon.
My Prediction: England 3-2 DR Congo
Gbenga’s Prediction: The upset scenario depends on England failing to cope with DR Congo’s aggressive pressing and quick transitions. England’s changing back four has occasionally looked vulnerable when losing possession, and DR Congo possess the pace and directness through Wissa and Sadiki to exploit those moments.
If Sebastien Desabre’s side can remain organised defensively while capitalising on England’s mistakes, they have already shown against Portugal and Colombia that they can compete with elite opposition and could spring a surprise victory.
My Prediction: England 1-2 DR Congo
Gloria’s Prediction: If DR Congo successfully execute the same defensive blueprint they used against Portugal, they could drag England into extra time. Their willingness to press high while maintaining defensive discipline makes them difficult to break down despite having limited possession.
England’s unsettled defensive partnerships could also leave room for a dangerous counter-attack. Should the match reach penalties after a 1-1 draw, DR Congo would fancy their chances of completing another major upset.
My Prediction: England 1-1 DR Congo (DR Congo Win on Penalties)