England Top Group L but Tuchel Has Plenty to Fix Before DRC Clash
England secured top spot in Group L with a comfortable-looking 2-0 victory over Panama in New Jersey, but according to The Guardian the result flatters to deceive. Thomas Tuchel’s side head to Atlanta for Wednesday’s last-32 tie against the Democratic Republic of the Congo with a growing injury list, a shaky defence and a worrying reliance on just two players to do the bulk of the attacking work.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham remain the undisputed heartbeat of this England side. The pair have now accounted for five of England’s six goals at the tournament, and against Panama they combined for a goal from open play for the first time since September 2023. Bellingham opened the scoring before setting up Kane — who headed home from close range after Marcus Rashford’s delivery from the left — to make it 2-0. Their partnership, which failed to click at Euro 2024, appears to be finding its rhythm on American soil.
The concern, however, is what lies beneath that top tier. Morgan Rogers was ineffective in the number ten role against Panama, and Tuchel does not appear to fully trust Eberechi Eze. Anthony Gordon has struggled when denied space out wide, while Bukayo Saka — despite picking up two assists in the tournament — is still working his way back to full sharpness. Marcus Rashford showed more promise after coming on against both Croatia and Panama, but his final ball and clinical edge need to improve before the knockout stages get tougher.
The most pressing issue is the right-back position. Tino Livramento has already departed the squad and flown home. Reece James is in a race against time to return from a hamstring problem. And Jarell Quansah, used as cover, rolled his ankle during the Panama game — he left the stadium moving freely but remains a doubt. Tuchel may need to rethink his defensive setup entirely for Wednesday’s fixture.
England should not take the DRC lightly. They opened the tournament by holding Portugal and possess genuine threats in Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa, who could punish the kind of defensive sloppiness Panama was able to expose.
For UK bettors, the match looks winnable on paper, but England’s vulnerability at the back and thin attacking options beyond Kane and Bellingham make them far from certainties to cruise through. Keep an eye on our World Cup 2026 hub for tips and analysis, and check the live standings for the full picture as the knockout rounds take shape.