England is set to receive a boost with Declan Rice returning for their last-32 match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this Wednesday. However, Jarell Quansah is likely to miss the game due to an ankle injury, intensifying Thomas Tuchel’s concerns at right-back.
Tuchel’s plans have already been complicated by Tino Livramento’s departure from the squad due to a calf issue earlier this month. Reece James, who played in England’s initial two games in Group L, is also unavailable after sustaining a hamstring injury last week. Following his absence in the win against Panama last Saturday, James’s return for a potential last-16 match against either Mexico or Ecuador next Sunday in Mexico City appears increasingly doubtful.
Against Panama, Tuchel had substituted James with Quansah, but the Bayer Leverkusen defender’s World Cup debut was cut short after he twisted his ankle in the second half. The 23-year-old was replaced by Djed Spence and is now a significant doubt for the match against the DRC. Although Tuchel expressed optimism about Quansah’s recovery, sources suggest that the last-32 match might come too soon for him.
With both Quansah and James likely sidelined, Spence is expected to start. Tuchel has shown confidence in the adaptable Tottenham defender, having utilized him in all three matches as England claimed the top spot in their group with seven points. Another option would be to shift Ezri Konsa to right-back while pairing John Stones with Marc Guéhi in central defense.
Stones’ recent playing time has been limited, featuring in only five matches for Manchester City last season, and he hasn’t appeared for England since their opening game against Croatia, which ended in a 4-2 victory.
When asked about Stones’ readiness to start against the DRC, Tuchel replied, “Yeah, for sure. Why not? He was even in consideration to start [against Panama] but then it would have been the third change in the central defence in the third match, and I thought I’d stick with the pair because I saw them good against Ghana – and I saw them good against Panama.”
Tuchel is confident that Jude Bellingham has fully embraced his tactics and is poised to make a significant impact throughout the tournament. Bellingham played a crucial role in the 2-0 victory over Panama, calming the team’s nerves by scoring the opening goal, which was his second of the tournament, and providing an assist for Harry Kane. The Real Madrid midfielder, earning his 51st cap, did not feature in several of England’s qualifying matches, and Tuchel had previously warned that competition for places would be intense.
In the match against Panama, Bellingham operated from a deeper position while Morgan Rogers, his childhood friend, started alongside him for the third time under Tuchel. Bellingham’s standout performance led Tuchel to remark that he was not surprised by the 22-year-old stepping up when needed. “I’m not sure if it’s a reaction but it is what we want from him,” Tuchel stated.
“He was very positive from the first day in camp. He buys fully into all the things we demand as a team player, and then he brings his own individual quality to decide football games. That’s what you see in World Cups now, and what you see from other teams and other big players. We have it in him and he’s a key player … So well done until now. He needs to keep going.”
As the team returns to their base in Kansas City ahead of the clash with the DRC, Marcus Rashford is likely to retain his spot in the attacking lineup following a commendable performance on the left. Tuchel refrained from confirming whether he has identified his best starting XI, emphasizing the importance of adaptability for England moving forward.
“With a new stage of the tournament, it starts new again. It’s knockout football. It brings its very own tension, its very own dynamics. We’ll prepare for that and be ready for it.”
