England face the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the World Cup last 32 on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, with Thomas Tuchel under pressure to avoid a repeat of the infamous Iceland defeat at Euro 2016. The 10th anniversary of that debacle, when Kolbeinn Sigthórsson's winner slid under Joe Hart's dive, serves as a stark warning for a team expected to progress but still searching for consistency.
Tuchel, appointed by the Football Association largely due to his elite knockout record, acknowledged the weight of expectation. "You will not find great athletes who didn't suffer big defeats," he said, referencing the Iceland loss that still haunts England. Three players from that match—Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, and John Stones—remain in the squad.
Tuchel's Knockout Pedigree
Tuchel's club record in knockout football boasts a 74% win ratio, including Champions League glory with Chelsea in 2021 and domestic cups with Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain. "I just love it," he said of knockout football, but warned that patience will be required against a DRC side that held Portugal in the group stage and will likely employ a low block.
England topped Group L with a 2-0 win over Panama, but the performance was met with a collective shrug. The team struggled to create chances in a draw with Ghana and faces an injury crisis at right-back, with Reece James and Jarell Quansah out. Bukayo Saka is nursing an Achilles problem, leaving Tuchel to decide whether to start Noni Madueke or risk Saka ahead of a possible last-16 tie in Mexico City.
The Challenge of the DRC
The DRC, ranked 41st in the world, have scored four goals in the tournament—all in the group stage—and boast a squad valued at £123.89m, compared to England's £1.25bn. Sébastien Desabre's side will seek to frustrate and counter, targeting a shaky England defence. Declan Rice returns to partner Elliot Anderson in midfield, but both have been dealing with muscular problems.
Tuchel recalled a painful penalty shootout loss in his first German cup final with Dortmund against Bayern Munich, which led him to overhaul his approach. "Now I go into the FA and I have on the highest level a penalty programme," he said. "We trained it. We have a process in place. We are prepared."
High Stakes for England
Tuchel's record in shootouts is mixed, but he insists England are ready. The team have never lost to an African side at the World Cup, but a slip-up in Atlanta could spell the end of their campaign. "It could be curtains for Tuchel," the article notes, as England seek to avoid ignominy and build momentum for a deeper run.
Marcus Rashford needs to hone his end product if he keeps Anthony Gordon out on the left, while Jude Bellingham and Kane continue to lead the attack. The challenge is clear: avoid another Iceland and prove that England can handle the pressure of knockout football under their German coach.
