England face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the last 32 of the World Cup on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, with Thomas Tuchel under pressure to avoid a repeat of the infamous Iceland defeat of 2016. The 10th anniversary of that debacle passed last Saturday, when Kolbeinn Sigthórsson's winner slid under Joe Hart's dive, Wayne Rooney toiled in midfield, Harry Kane took corners, and Roy Hodgson conducted a sullen farewell press conference. That defeat ended England's Euro 2016 campaign and marked a low point before Gareth Southgate gradually restored the team's credibility.
Tuchel's knockout pedigree under scrutiny
Tuchel was appointed by the Football Association largely because of his outstanding record in knockout football. At club level, his win ratio in knockout matches is 74%. He led Chelsea to Champions League glory in 2021, took them to three domestic cup finals, and won domestic cups with Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain. He also has a Club World Cup to his name. However, England's group-stage performance has been mixed: a 2-0 win over Panama was greeted with a collective shrug, and a 1-1 draw with Ghana highlighted attacking struggles.
Iceland warning still fresh for England
Three of Tuchel's players – Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, and John Stones – were part of the squad that lost to Iceland. Reflecting on the defeat, Tuchel said: "You will not find great athletes who didn't suffer big defeats." He cited the Netflix documentary on Rafael Nadal's career, noting how even the greatest endure injuries, heavy losses, and sleepless nights. "Even if you have scars, it is just the way it is. We all had our losses," Tuchel added, recalling his own doubts after a 1-0 friendly defeat to New Zealand.
DR Congo: a dangerous opponent
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, ranked 41st in the world, proved resilient in the group stage by holding Portugal to a draw. Sébastien Desabre's side is expected to employ a low block and counter-attacking strategy, aiming to frustrate England and exploit defensive vulnerabilities. England have never lost to an African side at the World Cup, but the DRC's physicality and organization pose a threat. The squad value of England is £1.25bn, compared to the DRC's £123.89m, according to Transfermarkt. Jude Bellingham is England's most expensive player at £111.95m, while the DRC's Noah Sadiki is valued at £30.14m.
Injury concerns and selection dilemmas
Tuchel faces an injury crisis at right-back, with Reece James hamstrung and Jarell Quansah out with a twisted ankle. He must also decide whether to start Bukayo Saka, who has been dealing with an achilles problem, or rest him for a potential last-16 tie in Mexico City. Noni Madueke is an option on the right wing. On the left, Marcus Rashford needs to improve his end product if he keeps Anthony Gordon out of the starting XI. Declan Rice is set to return to partner Elliot Anderson in midfield after being rested against Panama, but both have been managing muscular issues.
Penalty shootout preparation
Tuchel acknowledged his mixed record in penalty shootouts and shared a story from his time at Dortmund. "My first cup final in Germany with Dortmund in my first year, I play against Bayern and against Pep [Guardiola]. It was a nightmare," he said. The match went to extra time, and Tuchel admitted he forgot to prepare for penalties. "We ended up asking the players: 'Do you want to shoot? Do you want to shoot?' They were ready for it. And we were absolutely not ready. We lost. A very painful experience and a big, big scar on me." Since then, Tuchel has implemented a penalty programme at the FA, saying: "Now it is on the highest level, thanks to the FA, of course, and thanks to my development."
High stakes for England and Tuchel
England's target at the World Cup is to win the tournament for the first time since 1966. A slip-up against the DRC could end Tuchel's tenure prematurely. The head coach welcomes rising expectations, stating: "I just love it." He knows that winning the last-32 tie would set up a last-16 match in Mexico City, but first England must overcome a disciplined DRC side. A decade on from Iceland, England will hope that history does not repeat itself.
