On the face of it, England appear to have cruised through to the knockout phase: unbeaten and top of the group. However, look past the standings and a slightly more complicated picture emerges.
Aside from a scintillating second half in the opening 4-2 win over Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side has struggled to break teams down.
The Struggle Against the Low Block
Panama held out comfortably for an hour at the MetLife Stadium until Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane finally popped up to secure victory against the Group L’s bottom side.
It was a similar story against Ghana, where obdurate defending succeeded in blunting the England attack to secure a 0-0 draw. In truth, the Black Stars could have even pinched the win had they not been denied a blatant late penalty at the Gillette Stadium.
What to Expect from DR Congo
Round of 32 opponents DR Congo are expected to offer similar resistance. Their blueprint is clear: defend deep in numbers and hit England on the break with speedy counterattacks. That approach, typically utilized in a 5-3-2 formation, earned them a 1-1 draw against Portugal and frustrated Colombia for 76 minutes before a narrow 1-0 loss.
However, head coach Sébastien Desabre has shown tactical flexibility. He switched to a more front-footed 4-4-2 for their must-win final group match against Uzbekistan; their subsequent 3-1 victory proved they also possess potency in attack when they set their minds to it.
Questions Over Tuchel’s Selection
England’s difficulty in dismantling defensive-minded sides has raised questions regarding Thomas Tuchel’s squad selection. With the likes of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden omitted—though both admittedly struggled for form in the Premier League this season—England have been criticized for lacking the attacking guile necessary to unlock a disciplined defense with a moment of brilliance.
There are mounting issues at right-back, too. Tuchel’s decision to leave Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold out of the squad has been compounded by a series of unfortunate injuries.
Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento left the pre-tournament training camp with a calf injury, while Chelsea skipper Reece James picked up a hamstring problem after starting the first two games at the Finals.
To make matters worse, his replacement, Jarell Quansah, is likely to miss the DR Congo match with an ankle injury. Consequently, Tottenham’s Djed Spence—generally viewed as a more defensive-minded full-back—is expected to start in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Team News and Tactics
There is some better news on the injury front: key midfielder Declan Rice is expected to be available for the last-32 tie after overcoming a knock to his calf sustained against Ghana. Tactical consistency remains the priority for the manager; England are expected to line up in the same 4-2-3-1 formation that has served them thus far.
As for the opposition, DR Congo are enjoying a historic run. Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after a 52-year absence, their success is built on defensive discipline and the rapid counter-attacking threat of Cedric Bakambu and Yoane Wissa.
Since Desabre took control in 2022, The Leopards have kept 29 clean sheets in 57 games. Notably, they have not lost by more than a single goal when their full contingent of European-based players has been available (per BBC Sport).
While that run hasn’t featured many top-tier nations, reaching the knockout stages for the first time in their history proves they are a side on the up. Wednesday’s clash may not be the straightforward formality some in the English media—already eyeing a last-16 tie against Mexico or Ecuador—is predicting.
Key Players to Watch:
Yoane Wissa (DR Congo)
Pacy striker Yoane Wissa arrived in North America following a frustrating Premier League season. After his £55m move from Brentford to Newcastle United, a serious knee injury limited him to just four starts and a single goal.
However, the 29-year-old looks rejuvenated on the world stage, resembling the player who netted 19 goals for the Bees in 2024/25. He has scored three of his nation’s four goals so far, including a brace against Uzbekistan.
Jude Bellingham (England)
The Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham didn’t really feature in England’s final World Cup qualifiers, leading to bizarre speculation that the 23-year-old might miss the plane entirely. That was, of course, madness.
Bellingham is one of England’s few truly world-class talents and was immediately restored to the starting XI for the Finals. Creator, destroyer, and goalscorer all in one he has already netted two vital goals in this tournament – one in each of England’s two victories.
His link-up play with star striker Harry Kane remains the most likely key to unlocking the massed ranks of the DR Congo defense.While England may have selection issues, they are still clear favourites to go through in this tie – but we have already seen Morocco knock out Netherlands and Paraguay beat Germany in the knockout stages.
Probable England Starting XI lineup
Probable DR Congo Starting XI lineup
Selection Headaches and Historic Milestones
For DR Congo, Wednesday represents a historic milestone, marking their first knockout appearance since their 1974 debut as Zaire. Their journey to Atlanta has been a lesson in persistence, having navigated a World Cup playoff route that saw them overcome Nigeria on penalties and edge past Jamaica in extra time.
The Leopards are a team that thrives on being underestimated, and if England’s depleted defense cannot contain the pace of Wissa, this historic first meeting between the two nations could provide the shock of the tournament.
Match details: England v DR Congo
Kick-off: 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. BST — Wednesday, July 1
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
