England are set to face DR Congo in their first knockout game, a round of 32 fixture that will be broadcast live. The match will feature Guy Mowbray as the lead commentator, joined by Alan Shearer on the gantry at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The studio coverage will be presented by Mark Chapman, with analysis provided by former England players Wayne Rooney, Micah Richards, and Joe Hart. Darren Cann will offer insights on refereeing decisions, VAR, and the laws of the game, while Kelly Somers will conduct interviews from the England camp and report pitchside.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has emphasised that his side will not be overconfident, despite England entering the game as strong favourites. He noted the prevalence of upsets and late winners in the current World Cup, citing instances such as Germany’s elimination by Paraguay and the Netherlands’ defeat to Morocco. Brazil and Norway also secured late victories against Japan and the Ivory Coast, respectively. Tuchel told reporters on Tuesday that these results help to calm his side down and not to over-expect, highlighting that teams are well-prepared and difficult to break down, especially for favourites facing opponents with nothing to lose.
England topped their group and are now up against DR Congo, who are the highest-ranked among the third-placed teams. DR Congo finished their group stage after beating Uzbekistan, drawing with Portugal, and losing to Colombia. Their consistent 5-3-2 formation has been observed throughout the tournament, both with and without possession. DR Congo’s average possession stands at 38.8%, significantly lower than England’s 65.7%, which is second only to Spain’s 70.3%. This statistic suggests a defence-first approach, aiming for counter-attacks.
Tactical Considerations for England
Despite their low possession, DR Congo adopts a surprisingly front-footed defensive strategy. Against teams like Portugal and Colombia, who dominated possession, DR Congo pressed high from goal-kick situations. They tend to hold a higher defensive line than might be expected for a team with their possession statistics, rather than consistently dropping deep into their own box. Their players also apply pressure to the ball carrier and nearby teammates. These proactive defensive choices could be exploited by England.
DR Congo’s man-to-man pressing from goal-kicks involves their two strikers and three midfielders taking advanced positions to press the opposition’s goalkeeper, centre-backs, and holding midfielder. Their wing-backs are tasked with pressing the full-backs, leaving the three centre-backs to defend against three attackers. This aggressive man-to-man approach could play into England’s hands, as the squad is accustomed to dealing with high presses at club level in the Premier League.
England may find opportunities by utilising wide full-backs in deeper areas of the pitch. By playing low, DR Congo’s marking wing-backs would need to cover larger distances to press. If England’s full-backs receive the ball in these situations, they would have more time and space. This could lead to England focusing on playing down the sides of the pitch, using their ‘wide units’—comprising a full-back, midfielder, and winger—to rotate and pull DR Congo players out of position, targeting this potential weakness.
Another tactical element highlighted by England assistant coach Anthony Barry is Tuchel’s strategy of enticing pressure before ‘accelerating through the middle third’. This approach aims to draw the opponent’s attack and midfield away from the defensive line, creating more space and fewer defenders between England’s attackers and the goal. This explains why players like Elliot Anderson and Harry Kane sometimes deliver direct passes from deep to powerful runners in behind, and why England performed better against a pressing Croatia side compared to a passively defending Ghana.
Exploiting DR Congo’s Defensive Shape
Whether pressing high or defending in a central block, DR Congo has consistently applied forward pressure against Colombia and Portugal. Tuchel will likely hope they maintain this strategy, as it could create opportunities for players like Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Noni Madueke to run in behind the defence. In their defensive block, DR Congo’s front two often press the centre-backs on the ball while screening passes to the defensive midfielder. However, if teams build with more than two players in the first line, their attackers can be outnumbered, requiring a central midfielder to push up and apply pressure, which England could exploit.
A central midfielder such as Nico O’Reilly, Jude Bellingham, or Declan Rice could pin DR Congo’s central midfield, opening up unmarked passing lanes out wide. If a third central defender, like Jarell Quansah in England’s last game, is used, it could trigger DR Congo’s wide midfielder to press, creating space for England to move the ball into the vacated area. England showed a greater focus on passing through the centre against Panama, and it will be interesting to see if this pattern continues.
Against Ghana’s resolute 4-5-1 low block, Tuchel instructed his players to use short passes followed by a long switch, aiming to get wingers unmarked in space. This tactic is likely to be seen again against DR Congo. With only three central midfielders, overloading one side of the pitch with short passes to draw DR Congo players closer to the ball could create a gap on the far side. A long pass to this area could allow an England winger time to run at and beat the wing-backs.
DR Congo’s lack of width in midfield can also be targeted with simple horizontal passes from one side of the pitch to the other. While this carries some risk, Spain successfully exploited this against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. A safer scenario for targeting this weakness is during throw-ins. DR Congo commits many players to the area around a throw-in in the opposition’s half, making it easy for opponents to find an unmarked player. A first-time pass back to the thrower, followed by a switch of play, could quickly put England in a strong attacking position.
DR Congo also poses its own threats, particularly with their unconventional short build-up from goal-kicks. Their back three spreads wide, forming a back four with the goalkeeper involved, while wing-backs take wide positions and a holding midfielder sits in front. The remaining two midfielders and two forwards position themselves around where longer passes are aimed, rather than in fixed zones, which helps them gain control of loose balls. This widely spaced build-up makes their passing riskier but also makes it harder for opponents to press them cohesively due to the large distances involved. Additionally, Yoane Wissa’s ability to read attacking situations and react quickly in the box presents a significant threat.
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Source: independent.co.uk
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”