As rush hour hits in England, commuters will hastily head home to watch the Three Lions in action against Congo DR, in their World Cup 2026 last-32 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Thomas Tuchel‘s men finished first in Group L – without completely silencing all of the doubters – while their African foes qualified as the highest-ranked third-placed nation.
England
Before the first ball was kicked in Panama vs. England, the Three Lions were safe in the knowledge that even a shock loss would not lead to a catastrophic elimination, thanks to results elsewhere in the group stage going their way on Friday evening.
Top spot still had to be wrapped up on the final matchday in Group L, when Croatia and Ghana were both capable of usurping the Three Lions, and Tuchel’s side produced another tepid first half against the nation they pummelled 6-1 at Russia 2018.
However, the handful of world-class talents in the England squad came to the fore in the second period, when Harry Kane – becoming his nation’s highest World Cup scorer of all time – and Jude Bellingham struck quickfire goals to seal a largely straightforward 2-0 victory.
Tuchel is yet to oversee a competitive loss at the England helm, winning 10 and drawing one of his 11 non-friendly battles so far; only Ron Greenwood (16 between 1977 and 1980) and Roy Hodgson (14 between 2012 and 2013) have enjoyed longer unbeaten competitive starts – penalty shootouts excluded.
DR Congo
England have not yet had to exhibit their powers of recovery at the 2026 World Cup, but after coming from behind to rescue an opening draw against Portugal, DR Congo went one better in their crucial Uzbekistan contest.
Competing at their first World Cup as DR Congo, the Leopards will play in the knockout rounds for the first time ever, having crashed out of the 1974 tournament in the group stage – as Zaire – with three losses to their name.
Sebastien Desabre‘s charges finished just one point shy of Portugal as they qualified with the best record of any third-placed team – four points and a positive goal difference – after being given 3/4 odds to reach the knockout rounds in our World Cup 2026 betting guide.
Should DR Congo stun England in their maiden meeting, a last-16 clash with Mexico or Ecuador is next on the menu, before a potential quarter-final with none other than record five-time winners Brazil.
Right-back debate
England team talk has been dominated by one area and one area only – the right-back position – after Jarell Quansah joined Reece James on the treatment table with the ankle injury he picked up against Panama.
Tuchel is optimistic that the Bayer Leverkusen defender will be back up and running in a few days, but the same is unlikely to be true for the injury-plagued James, so Djed Spence will almost certainly start out wide on Wednesday night.
Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford should have also done enough to reprise their roles on the flanks – fitness-permitting – while Kane is now chasing another Lineker record; the Bayern Munich man has scored three WC knockout goals for England, half the total of the 65-year-old.
Prediction
A glut of England goals is surely off the cards as a result, but Kane and Bellingham need just one moment to make their world-class quality show, and the Three Lions have our backing to keep the dream alive.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
