England brace for another low-block test in DR Congo clash

England have yet to hit top gear at the FIFA World Cup, and after navigating a group stage with little jeopardy, Thomas Tuchel's side now face a Round of 32 clash in Atlanta tonight against a fearless DR Congo team with nothing to lose. 

The Three Lions topped Group L after grinding out a 2-0 win over Panama to finish ahead of Ghana, Croatia and Panama. Yet despite their unbeaten campaign, questions remain over their performances.
 

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Since an entertaining 4-2 opening victory over Croatia, England have looked short on creativity, lacked attacking fluency and struggled to break down deep, compact defences. They were held to a frustrating goalless draw by Ghana before labouring for more than an hour against Panama, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane eventually securing victory.
 

And England may encounter a similar challenge again.
 

DR Congo qualified as the highest-ranked third-placed side after producing a dramatic comeback to beat Uzbekistan 3-1 in a must-win Group K clash in Atlanta. Trailing for over an hour, Sebastien Desabre's men turned the game around through Yoane Wissa's penalty, Fiston Mayele's strike and Wissa's second to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
 

Having deployed two forwards against Uzbekistan, Desabre is expected to revert to the five-man defence that frustrated Portugal in a 1-1 draw and kept Colombia to a narrow 1-0 victory. Wissa, who has scored three of DR Congo's four tournament goals -- matching his entire 2025-26 tally for Newcastle United -- will again be their biggest attacking threat.
 

England are expected to welcome Declan Rice back into midfield, but concerns remain at right-back. Reece James is sidelined with a hamstring injury, while his replacement, Jarell Quansah, suffered an ankle injury against Panama, leaving Djed Spence in line to start.
 

Kane, with three goals at this tournament, can move level with Geoff Hurst on four World Cup knockout goals for England. Only Gary Lineker, with six, has scored more. Bellingham's creativity and energy will also be crucial if England are to unlock another disciplined low block.
 

For DR Congo, simply reaching this stage represents redemption. Competing as Zaire in 1974, they exited without a point, failed to score and conceded 14 goals, including nine against Yugoslavia. They returned the hard way by beating Jamaica in the inter-confederation playoff and overcame preparations disrupted by the Ebola crisis back home to make history.
 

England remain favourites, but if the group stage taught Tuchel's side anything, it is that counter-attacking opponents who sit deep in a low-block are capable of asking uncomfortable questions.

Highlights:
 

**England and DR Congo have never met in any competition. 

**England's only previous World Cup knockout match against African opposition was a 3-0 last-16 win over Senegal in 2022. 

**Half of England's four matches without victory under Thomas Tuchel have come against African sides -- a 0-0 World Cup draw with Ghana and a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal in June 2025. 

**Tuchel is unbeaten in competitive matches as England manager (W10 D1). Only Ron Greenwood (16, 1977-80) and Roy Hodgson (14, 2012-13) enjoyed longer unbeaten competitive starts (excluding penalty shootouts). 

**DR Congo reached the knockout stage for the first time. 

**Yoane Wissa has scored three of DR Congo's four goals at this World Cup, matching his entire 2025-26 tally for Newcastle United.