World Cup 2026: Why did England struggle against DR Congo?

How a team defends is not done in isolation. In possession, tactics affect how well a team defends.

With England having more possession in the second half, they were able to minimize the impact of DR Congo’s build-up play.

It will be more difficult to play in an away game against Mexico.

But, a more measured possession, similar to how DR Congo started the game against England, could be a strategy Tuchel’s side can borrow for their next match.

On the ball, England struggled at times to string together free-flowing attacks against DR Congo’s 4-4-2. It followed a pattern set in their matches against Ghana and Panama in the group stage.

Nevertheless, they had some reliable methods of attack with which to fall back.

Ahead of the tournament, Tuchel was prepared to attack the flanks with what he called a “wide unit” – a triangle of full-backs, attacking midfielders and wingers to rotate between themselves, before drawing the opposition out of position, before attacking where movement opened up.

The idea was to stick to Plan A, so Tuchel opted for like-for-like profiles across the pitch rather than picking players who changed the team’s style.

The only England player who perhaps offers a different dynamic is Eberechi Eze, who arrives after a key hydration break.

Acknowledging injuries to his full-backs as well as the underwhelming form of his wide unit, Tuchel has tried to introduce alternative methods of attack in recent games.

This includes attacking the medium as well as changing who makes up the broader unit in hopes of finding relationships that work well.

And he may have stumbled on combinations that clicked late in Wednesday’s game.