As England prepares for their upcoming match in Atlanta, they grapple with significant issues in central defense, a series of injuries to right-backs, and fatigue in midfield. The team is relying heavily on the dynamic duo of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham to maintain their momentum. Thomas Tuchel remarked that it is “a moment to keep believe and pushing”
While England secured a place at the top of Group L with a 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey, their performance raised questions. Despite winning, the team did not look particularly convincing. Nevertheless, they remain optimistic about an upcoming last-32 clash against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday, bolstered by the talents of Bellingham and Kane.
Tuchel is acutely aware that there is ample room for improvement within the squad. Panama left the World Cup without scoring a single goal in three matches, yet they still created opportunities against England. The defensive unit appears vulnerable and could be exposed by more aggressive opponents. Although they avoided facing Senegal, the DRC has shown its potential by drawing with Portugal, featuring talented players like Noah Sadiki and Yoane Wissa, who could capitalize on England’s defensive lapses.
The right-back position has become a particular concern for England. Tino Livramento has returned home, Reece James is struggling with a hamstring injury as he aims to regain fitness, and Jarell Quansah is a doubt after rolling his ankle against Panama. Although Quansah left the stadium on Saturday night without visible difficulty, his availability for the match against the DRC remains uncertain, prompting Tuchel to consider potential defensive adjustments.
Despite these concerns, the growing partnership between Bellingham and Kane offers hope for England’s scoring capabilities. Their collaboration, which faltered during Euro 2024, is showing signs of improvement in the United States. They are beginning to complement each other’s play without crowding each other’s space. Bellingham has learned to advance when Kane drops back, leading to a successful combination that resulted in a goal against Panama for the first time since September 2023.
This combination was showcased just five minutes after Bellingham opened the scoring. The 22-year-old started further up the field than Kane. Marcus Rashford played a crucial role by chipping the ball down the left flank. Bellingham made a penetrating run, cut inside, and delivered a pinpoint cross for Kane, who was ideally positioned in the box to head the ball home, extending the lead to 2-0.
Such efforts from two world-class forwards have sparked discussions about Bellingham’s role in the team. The pressing question now is whether England is becoming too dependent on the contributions of the Real Madrid star and Kane. Together, they have netted five of England’s six goals, while the performance of other forwards has been less than impressive.
Is this reliance concerning? Many teams lean on their standout players. Brazil has Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha, while Argentina struggles with their own dependence on Lionel Messi. Spain, although more versatile, looks to Lamine Yamal for inspiration. Ultimately, the benchmark for attacking variety is set by France, where Kylian Mbappé has been exceptional, supported by Ousmane Dembélé’s first-half hat-trick against Norway, and notable contributions from Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola.
It may seem futile to urge players like Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, and Eberechi Eze to match such high standards. Expecting them to replicate the brilliance of last year’s Ballon d’Or winner or rising stars from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich is unrealistic. It would be akin to telling Andy Murray to emulate Roger Federer.
Nonetheless, Tuchel can reasonably demand more from his squad. Rogers struggled in the No. 10 role against Panama, while Tuchel appears hesitant to trust Eze. Gordon has faced challenges when space is restricted on the left flank. Saka has provided two assists, including a corner for Bellingham’s volleyed goal, but he is still working on regaining his sharpness.
Rashford, however, has shown promise. He made an impact after coming on as a substitute against Croatia, although he does not consider himself a supersub. Against Panama, he replaced Gordon and was lively, but his final delivery must improve. Against the DRC, Rashford needs to be more clinical.
In Tuchel’s philosophy, individual accolades take a backseat to team performance. He emphasized, “Sometimes, it’s just a run from someone else to open the space up for Jude so that he can shine,” He continued, “They work in units. If you see the chance in the first half where Jude does the run into the box, Nico O’Reilly does this run to just take an opponent out.”
Tuchel criticized England’s unstructured offensive style in the first half of their recent friendly against New Zealand, stating, “No one knows what the other one is thinking,”
Tuchel has no intention of discussing whether he should include Cole Palmer in the squad. Instead, he is focused on maximizing the potential of his current players. He expressed disappointment that none of the players stepped up when Ghana effectively neutralized Bellingham and Kane. Thomas Partey successfully restricted Kane’s involvement, allowing him only 19 touches, while Bellingham grew frustrated, managing just three passes with Kane during the draw.
Tuchel stated, “We want to play more in patterns and more in units. It’s not only about patterns, it’s about the quality in the pattern.”
Rashford has displayed flashes of brilliance, but the challenge remains to convert that potential into consistent performance. Although Kane struggled in the first half against Panama with just one touch in the area, he, along with Bellingham, proved decisive when it mattered most, providing a reason for England to remain optimistic.
- World Cup 2026
- Thomas Tuchel
- England
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