Thomas Tuchel warns England to stay patient in 2026 World Cup last-32 tie against DR Congo - 'Don't freak out or start to doubt'

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Thomas Tuchel has urged England not to ”freak out or start to doubt” if they do not take the lead early in their FIFA World Cup 2026 last-32 tie against DR Congo. The game takes place in Atlanta on Wednesday.

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England are the strong favourites to progress against the 44th-ranked side in the world after topping Group L with wins over Croatia and Panama.

However, they are likely to again face a low block, which could lead to a testing encounter.

Already at the tournament, England failed to break down Ghana in a goalless draw and Panama held out for more than an hour before Jude Bellingham made the breakthrough.

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”We are not at the stage yet where you get full praise for what you do, because every one of us expects to win,” said Tuchel, who will be contesting his first knockout game as England manager.

”Every one of you expects us to win, every one of the fans expects us to win, so we’re just matching at the moment our own expectations.

”There is not a lot of gain. There’s not a lot of praise. Still you face a team that don’t allow a lot of chances. It can be tiring, it can be a bit nerve-racking. It can be monotonous to break this block down.

”But that’s where the energy goes to, where the mindset has to be: that we don’t freak out; we don’t start to doubt. We keep believing and do our things. Encourage the players, because clearly there is commitment and togetherness.”

Tuchel was appointed as England manager with the clear goal of winning the World Cup. It’s job done so far at the tournament and Tuchel is relishing the knockout rounds.

”I just love it,” Tuchel said. ”It just gives an extra edge. It’s what makes the FA Cup special and Carabao Cup.

"The first rounds of FA Cup and the rounds of 32s in the Carabao Cup, they’re not sexy. They’re not glamorous. You need to overcome them, and later it becomes glamorous, it becomes a big event. In Champions League, the first rounds, you need to overcome it.”

"You need to go out of the group, and then you need to find the win. You need to wear opponents down. You know that they have quality.

”Now in the first knockout, we will face a copy of Ghana, a copy of Panama, a proud team, a defensive team, a committed team to defending, a quick team, happy to counterattack.”

England are set to be without both Reece James and Jarell Quansah for the match on Wednesday.

James started the first two games at right-back but has a hamstring injury, while Quansah sustained an ankle issue against Panama.

”They are getting closer and closer,” said Tuchel about James and Quansah. ”I saw both of them on the pitch. Jarell is a little bit ahead of Reece in the nature of the injury.

”But the race was close even to make it into the squad this time. So we need to make sure we have more matches and then they will be available very soon.”

Either Djed Spence or Ezri Konsa look set to start at right-back against DR Congo.

”You find solutions,” added Tuchel. ”It is a team sport. We would love to have Reece and Jarell with us, but they are injured at the moment. Other players will step up and we will push this over the line.”

James started the first two games at right-back but has a hamstring injury, while Quansah sustained an ankle issue against Panama.

England will stick to Southgate penalty plan

Tuchel also revealed that his team would follow the penalty shootout blueprint that was devised by his predecessor, Gareth Southgate.

Under Southgate, England players practised penalties regularly, trying to replicate - as much as possible - the actual experience in training.

Thomas Tuchel watches training on the eve of England's World Cup meeting with DR Congo

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The national team had won one in seven shootouts before Southgate's time, but under him, England won three out of four.

"The FA has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme," Tuchel said.

"We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process."

But Tuchel added a note of caution, saying: "I think it is difficult to simulate the situation (of a shootout).

"I heard Thierry Henry say he can't remember the walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot in his first penalty shootout for France - you cannot train that."

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