ENG vs
COD
MEX ENG
Next Match - Round of 16
England will be facing Mexico in there next round of 16 match which is sheduled in Mexico City, Mexico on 6th July 2026.
Starting Lineups
England lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation to establish dominance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Jordan Pickford started in goal, shielded by a back four featuring central defenders Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi, flanked by Djed Spence at right-back and youth prospect Nico O'Reilly on the left. The midfield pivot consisted of Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson holding down the engine room, providing a baseline for the creative trio of Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford. Captain Harry Kane spearheaded the attack as the solitary central striker.
DR Congo countered with an aggressive, well-drilled 4-3-3 shape tailored to catch the heavy favorites off guard. Lionel Mpasi guarded the net, protected by a defensive line of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, and Arthur Masuaku. In the middle third, Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal'ayel Mukau, and Noah Sadiki formed a highly compact and physical midfield unit. The forward frontline was led by central striker Yoane Wissa, supported on the flanks by wide forwards Nathanaël Mbuku and the dangerous Brian Cipenga.
The Managers
Thomas Tuchel experienced a deeply agonizing evening in the dugout, witnessing his English squad look shockingly disjointed and vulnerable during counter-attacks for the opening 75 minutes. Tuchel’s positional alignment raised questions early on as Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi sat too close together, forcing full-backs out of position, but his decisive second-half adjustments ultimately salvaged the match. Conversely, the DR Congo technical staff executed a brilliant tactical blueprint, successfully organizing a low block that completely stifled England's star-studded midfield while commanding his players to exploit the spaces behind England's high-overlapping full-backs.
Previous Head-to-Head Match
Entering this high-stakes World Cup knockout stage fixture, these two footballing nations shared virtually no competitive baggage or historical modern rivalry. This Round of 32 clash served as a historic, first-ever tournament meeting between the Three Lions and the Leopards, which added to the unpredictable narrative as the African underdogs played with an absolute lack of fear against their more illustrious European opponents.
The Decisive Goals
The underdogs completely rewrote the script just seven minutes into the match when Chancel Mbemba intercepted a loose ball deep in his own half and drove forward. Mbemba whipped a pinpoint low cross into the penalty box, where Brian Cipenga slipped past England's center-backs to drill a clinical finish beyond Jordan Pickford, putting DR Congo into a shock 1-0 lead. England’s relentless, agonizing search for an answer finally paid off in the 75th minute when substitute Anthony Gordon whipped a beautiful ball into the six-yard box, allowing Harry Kane to peel off his marker and guide a powerful downward header into the back of the net. The ultimate heartbreak for DR Congo materialized in the 86th minute when Gordon again turned provider, picking out Kane inside a congested penalty area where the England captain swiveled gracefully and fired an unstoppable, 94 km/h strike into the top corner to seal a dramatic 2-1 comeback.
Substitutes and In-Game Changes
With his tournament life flashing before his eyes, Thomas Tuchel altered the course of the game in the 60th minute by introducing Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka for Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke, completely rejuvenating the wide channels. Tuchel later subbed on Eberechi Eze for Djed Spence to push more bodies forward, and added John Stones late in stoppage time to replace a cramping Declan Rice and protect the slim margin. DR Congo responded with dynamic changes of their own to preserve their energy, bringing on Meschack Elia for Mbuku, before adding Edo Kayembe and Théo Bongonda, followed by a double late switch of Fiston Mayele and Joris Kayembe for Moutoussamy and Masuaku, though their heroic defensive efforts ultimately fell agonizingly short under sustained late pressure.
Writer's Thoughts
This exhilarating Round of 32 escape will go down as one of the most stressful encounters in England's recent tournament history, sparing the Three Lions from what would have been an embarrassing historical exit. While Harry Kane rightfully assumes the hero status—his magnificent brace taking him to 13 career World Cup goals to surpass Pelé on the all-time tournament charts—super-sub Anthony Gordon deserves massive credit for injecting the necessary urgency and delivering both crucial assists. DR Congo exit the competition with their heads held immensely high after outplaying the favorites for long stretches and seeing Yoane Wissa unluckily rattle the woodwork. England marches on to the Round of 16, but Thomas Tuchel knows a drastically improved performance is required before facing co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
.png)
Social Plugin