England enter the World Cup last-32 match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) as group winners and overwhelming favourites, but manager Thomas Tuchel says his team must not assume an easy progression. Multiple outlets report that Tuchel welcomes the pressure of knockout football and expects England to win the tie, yet he is wary of DR Congo’s threat and ability to unsettle opponents. The sources also highlight that England have faced defensive setups in recent games and will again need to find a way to break down a likely low block.
Reports point to England’s performance concerns being focused on game management and selection decisions, with some attention on how the side recovered from a tense moment involving DR Congo earlier in the tournament narrative. Tuchel is said to frame the situation as a test of patience rather than overreaction, urging his players not to become complacent after topping their group.
Across the coverage, DR Congo is described as having already exceeded expectations by reaching the knockout stage, having challenged strong teams in the group phase, including Portugal and Colombia.
