England’s World Cup knockout stage starts Wednesday against DR Congo, and Thomas Tuchel has a problem he didn’t expect to face this early. His right-back depth chart is basically empty.
Reece James is out with a hamstring injury. That much everyone knew. But Jarell Quansah, who replaced James against Panama, is also banged up with an ankle issue. The team hasn’t confirmed his status yet, but the signs don’t look great. So Tuchel is left with Djed Spence, a natural left-back, or Ezri Konsa, a center-back who’s played right-back maybe a handful of times. Neither option is ideal.
This is where Tuchel’s roster decisions come under a microscope. He left Trent Alexander-Arnold off the squad entirely. When Tino Livramento got hurt, he replaced him with another center-back in Trevoh Chalobah. Nobody questioned it much at the time. Now it looks like a gamble that might backfire in the first knockout round.
The winger carousel keeps spinning
England’s wide attackers haven’t locked down their spots. Bukayo Saka started against Panama and had a bright first 20 minutes before fading. Marcus Rashford showed intent early but couldn’t finish. Noni Madueke has been getting the nod on the left over Anthony Gordon, who had two quiet group games and might have blown his chance. Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers are still lurking as alternatives.
The issue is that none of Tuchel’s four first-choice wingers have put together a complete performance. That matters more now than it did in the group stage, because knockout games don’t offer mulligans.
Declan Rice is back and that changes everything in midfield
Rice sat out the Panama match with a minor knock, but he’s expected to return against DR Congo. His presence does two things. It stabilizes the midfield defensively, and it lets Jude Bellingham push back into his preferred number 10 role. Bellingham played deeper against Panama and still managed a goal and an assist, which tells you something about his versatility. But he’s more dangerous closer to goal, and Rice’s return makes that switch possible.
Rice also gives England a weapon on set pieces. DR Congo held Portugal to a draw in the group stage, so they’re not going to roll over. Breaking them down might require a dead ball situation, and Rice is one of the better aerial threats in the squad.
Knockout pressure is a different animal
England knows the stakes. Every game from here is a final, and the squad has prepared for extra time and penalties. Tuchel has said publicly that winning the World Cup probably means surviving at least one shootout. That’s a realistic take, but you can bet the players are hoping Wednesday isn’t that day.
DR Congo is ranked 41st in the world, which makes this look like a favorable draw on paper. But soccer isn’t played on paper. They’ve got Yoane Wissa, who had a rough first season at Newcastle after his $70 million move from Brentford, and he’ll be motivated against familiar faces. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Noah Sadiki are also on the roster. This is a team that can frustrate England if the attack doesn’t click early.
Tuchel has five games to win a World Cup. It starts with figuring out his right-back situation and hoping his wingers show up. No pressure.
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