As the final whistle blew, the England camp breathed a sigh of relief – but beneath the surface, a nagging sense of discontent lingers. Beating 46th-ranked DR Congo in a game they dominated for long periods is no cause for celebration; instead, it's an opportunity to dissect the tactics that nearly unravelled them. Thomas Tuchel's side must now confront their own vulnerabilities ahead of the World Cup's next hurdle: a daunting encounter with Mexico.
DR Congo's unorthodox approach – swapping their usual 5-3-2 for a 4-4-2 setup – caught England off guard, exposing a chink in Tuchel's armour. The visitors' clever use of their goalkeeper and central midfielders to overload England's front two had the Three Lions stumbling to find their footing. Their full-backs occupied wide positions, pinching in Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke, leaving England's centre-halves exposed and struggling to close down the space.
The similarities between DR Congo's tactics and Mexico's 4-3-3 are striking – both utilise width and rotations to disrupt opponents' defensive structures. This is particularly worrying for England, as they face a side that can adapt its approach mid-game, much like DR Congo did against them. Raul Jimenez's ability to drop deep and create space has been a thorn in the side of many an opponent, and Mexico manager Javier Aguirre will be eager to exploit any weaknesses.
Tuchel faces a tactical conundrum: adopt a more defensive-minded approach, sacrificing possession for solidity, or stick with a high-pressing game plan but with significant tweaks. This might involve one of the central midfielders joining Kane and Bellingham in man-to-man marking against Mexico's centre-backs and defensive midfielder – an adjustment that would require Marc Guehi to step up and fill the space behind Declan Rice.
But England's struggles with possession and creating fluid attacking play are far from resolved. Their inability to adapt their approach mid-game, as seen in matches against Ghana and Panama, must be addressed. While Tuchel has previously emphasised using width through full-backs and wingers, the team now needs to find a more consistent on-ball rhythm – something they failed to achieve against DR Congo's 4-4-2.
Ultimately, it falls to Tuchel to make a clear call on England's tactics, avoiding the indecision that nearly cost them against DR Congo. With the Azteca Stadium's formidable atmosphere waiting in the wings, one thing is certain: only decisive action will see England through to the quarter-finals.
England's struggles with possession and creating fluid attacking play are far from resolved. Their inability to adapt their approach mid-game, as seen in matches against Ghana and Panama, must be addressed. While Tuchel has previously emphasised using width through full-backs and wingers, the team now needs to find a more consistent on-ball rhythm – something they failed to achieve against DR Congo's 4-4-2.