- Thomas Tuchel has explained why he has picked Djed Spence and Marcus Rashford to start for England in their World Cup last-32 tie against DR Congo in Atlanta.
- Speaking to BBC, the England boss downplayed the possible disruption of England’s fourth different starting defence so far this tournament with Spence at right back and confirmed that Saka is fit and ready despite not starting the game.
- When asked what he is worried about DR Congo, Tuchel replied: “Counter attacks, physicality. We just saw the lineup, we need to figure it out, because they always played 5-3-2, and sometimes switched more offensively in a 4-4-2, now it looks like a completely new formation. When we saw the saw the team sheet, so it looks almost as they try to copy Ghana in a 4-5-1 that would mean we have a really, really deep block to drill in, and to open up a deep block and be very careful in our, in our structure, while we, while we attack, to not expose ourselves. So that's basically it.”
- Tuchel added: “We will attack with five to six players, but four or five players have to take care about, about the coverage, and and to protect us against counter attacks, and we need to attack with freedom, but it's important that we are smart and take the risks in the last third, and not too early, that we avoid easy ball losses.”
- England XI: Pickford; Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford; Kane. DR Congo XI: Mpasi; Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku; Mukau, Moutoussamy, Sadiki; Mbuku; Wissa; Cipenga
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