Jordan Pickford reveals how Thomas Tuchel is motivating England stars at 2026 FIFA World Cup ahead of DR Congo last-32 tie - ‘Ready to go to war’

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Jordan Pickford insists England are "ready to go to war" for manager Thomas Tuchel as they look to end the nation's 60-year wait for a major trophy. After negotiating their way through the group stages, the Three Lions face DR Congo in the last 32.

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The match, on Wednesday, July 1, will be the first-ever meeting between the two countries, with the African nation making their debut in the knockout stages.

England, on the other hand, are attempting to improve on their run to the quarter-finals in 2022, when they were eliminated by France.

Pickford was in goal that day, as he was in 2018, when Gareth Southgate's men reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.

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That tournament ended in a heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Croatia after extra-time.

But the goalkeeper believes there is an air of confidence that they can go even further in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

"Belief, togetherness... I think we have had that previously, but I think the manager's got that belief in us," he told BBC Sport.

"The meetings the manager has with us, it is like you are ready to go to war.

"He puts that belief in you. There are different meetings he has tactically, and it is like 'yeah, it is go time'.

"We all want the same goal, we all want that end goal, and this squad he has picked, we are all in good spirits, and all in good moments in our career."

England picked up seven of a possible nine points during the group stage.

They started off with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia, before drawing 0-0 with Ghana, and edging to a 2-0 success over Panama.

The Three Lions were not at their fluent best in games two and three, when they struggled to break down two more defensively minded opponents.

DR Congo are also likely to sit deep and try and soak up pressure as they attempt to further an already historic run at the tournament.

England will be desperate to avoid the fate of Germany and the Netherlands, both eliminated on penalties on Monday night.

But they have never lost to African opposition at a World Cup, recording five wins and four draws from nine matches, and Pickford is prepared for whatever The Leopards throw at them.

"We want to win the game in 90 minutes," he told ITV Sport. "But we will be ready as a team, as a group, as England, to do what it takes to get the victory.

"If it goes to penalties, extra time, we have got the ability, we have got the lads to come off the bench, our togetherness is a high level, and that is what we are here to do.

"We are here to do the job. We know Congo is a tough nation, we know how many teams in Africa have qualified for the next round of games.

"They are a proud nation, and we have got to be ready for what they bring - but it is also about what we bring as a group, and we will be right after them."

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