England manager Thomas Tuchel believes the scar tissue from past World Cup and European Championship knockout defeats should serve as inspiration rather than a burden for his players as they face DR Congo. Tuchel referenced a documentary on tennis star Rafa Nadal, highlighting how even elite athletes overcome significant injuries and losses.
"There is no way you get through this without scars," Tuchel said. "You will not find great athletes who didn't suffer big defeats. You just don't find them."
He noted that recent squad members experienced a 2024 Euro last-16 exit a decade ago and have since faced losses in finals and a semi-final. However, Tuchel contends these experiences can be refocused into positive energy.
England enters their match against DR Congo as favorites, a status Tuchel acknowledges brings its own pressure. "I know everyone expects us now to beat DR Congo," he stated. "We are the first ones to expect it from ourselves. It doesn’t just mean that it will happen. We still have to do an awful lot to do it."
Tuchel expressed his affinity for knockout football, comparing its intensity to domestic cup competitions. He described the upcoming opponent as a "copy of Ghana, a copy of Panama, a proud team, a defensive team, a committed team, a quick team who are happy to counter attack." He emphasized the need for the team to manage expectations and maintain belief throughout the match, whether it takes 90 minutes or 120.
In terms of team selection, England will be without right-back Reece James due to a hamstring injury. Jarrell Quansah is also a doubt after an ankle injury sustained in the previous match, potentially opening doors for Ezri Konsa or Djed Spence at right-back. If Konsa plays, John Stones is expected to return at center-back. Declan Rice is set to return to midfield after being rested, with Morgan Rogers likely moving to the bench. The manager is also considering starting Noni Madueke in place of Bukayo Saka, who has been managing an Achilles issue and showed signs of fatigue in the last game.