England take on DR Congo in the World Cup round of 32 in Atlanta this evening, with a place in the last 16 at stake. The Three Lions secured progress by beating Panama at the weekend, though their group-stage performances have been pragmatic rather than spectacular. Thomas Tuchel's side had to be patient against resilient defences in their last two matches and may face a similar challenge against DR Congo, who held Portugal to a draw in their opening game.
Kick-off time and venue
Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm BST (12pm ET) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The winner will face Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium in the next round.
Team news and injury concerns
England boss Thomas Tuchel has a dilemma at right-back, with Reece James and Jarell Quansah both ruled out. The confirmed starting XIs will be announced shortly before kick-off.
Group stage recap
England began their campaign with a thrilling opener against Croatia but produced tamer displays against Ghana and Panama. DR Congo, meanwhile, showed their defensive solidity by holding Portugal to a 0-0 draw in their first match. Five nations have already booked their last-16 places: Paraguay, Japan, Morocco, Norway, and France. Germany and the Netherlands have been eliminated.
Atmosphere building in Atlanta
With just over two hours to kick-off, the pre-match party is getting started at the stadium. Fans are gathering in numbers, and the atmosphere is expected to be electric for this knockout clash.
How to follow
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