England head into their World Cup last-32 match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) as heavy favourites, and coach Thomas Tuchel says the team should be able to win the tie on Wednesday. Tuchel also cautions that England must stay composed and not misread their earlier group-stage results. He warns that DR Congo’s performance in the tournament suggests they can make the match difficult, pointing to the way the side pushed established teams such as Portugal and Colombia during the group stage.
Tuchel believes that recent results from other knockout-stage matchups illustrate the type of challenges England may face, including what he describes as exits and narrow wins involving other teams in the last 32. He is particularly concerned about the need to break down a defensive approach, describing the likelihood that England will have to confront another low block. The Guardian also reports that England are preparing for selection changes, with Morgan Spence set to start at right-back after Quansah is injured. Across reports, Tuchel’s message is that England’s expectations remain high, but the team must avoid panic and maintain focus when facing DR Congo.
