England head coach Thomas Tuchel has been warned that his side could face a defensive wall when they take on DR Congo in the World Cup round of 32. The Three Lions secured top spot in Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama and will now face DR Congo on Wednesday night in Atlanta.
Shearer's Warning on DR Congo's Tactics
Former England striker Alan Shearer believes DR Congo will adopt a defensive approach, similar to Ghana and Panama, aiming to hit England on the counter-attack. Speaking on BBC 5Live, Shearer said: "If it is going to be DR Congo, then I guess they're going to play the same as Ghana and Panama have today, where it will be defensive and they will try and hit England on the break."
Shearer emphasised the need for individual brilliance to unlock such a defence: "And that's when you're more reliant on players producing that piece of magic to get you out of a tricky spot."
England's Group Stage Performance
England finished top of Group L after a 2-0 win over Panama, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham scoring. Kane has netted three goals so far in the tournament. Shearer praised the midfield performance of Elliot Anderson and the defensive pace of Marc Guehi, but warned that England must improve defensively to avoid punishment in later rounds.
World Cup Round of 32 Surprises
The round of 32 has already seen shocks, with the Netherlands losing on penalties to Morocco and Germany defeated by Paraguay in a shootout. Brazil and Canada have also advanced to the last 16, with more matches to come.
