England manager Thomas Tuchel has called on his players to use the pain of previous World Cup and European Championship knockout defeats as motivation rather than a burden heading into their next match against DR Congo.
Tuchel referenced the past traumas, including a loss to Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2024 a decade ago, as well as subsequent final and semi-final defeats in major tournaments. He compared the approach to that of tennis star Rafa Nadal, drawing inspiration from a documentary about the 22-time Grand Slam champion's career.
"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 explained that even Nadal faced significant injuries, heavy losses, sleepless nights, and self-doubt. Tuchel acknowledged similar feelings after England's warm-up win against New Zealand, questioning his own capabilities. "If you want to win a big prize, there is not an easy route to get there," he stated. "Yes, we have some scars - but it helps you, actually. It helps you to remember the moment, how painful, but it is always possible to redirect your energy."
England enters the knockout stage as favorites against DR Congo. "I know everyone expects us now to beat DR Congo," Tuchel admitted. "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. But we still expect it from us, so that (pressure) is fair enough."
Tuchel expressed his enjoyment of knockout football, noting its "extra edge." He also described the approach needed to overcome opponents who may be defensive and quick on the counter-attack, such as DR Congo.
"We need to get our expectations right so that we are not frustrated, that we keep on believing," he said. "We have 90 minutes, we have 120 minutes, we have a lot of chances to win this match, and this is where the focus is."
England faces selection challenges due to injuries. Right back Reece James is out with a hamstring injury, and Jarrell Quansah is also unavailable after an ankle injury sustained in the previous match. This leaves Ezri Konsa or Djed Spence as potential replacements at right back, which could see John Stones shift to center back. Declan Rice is expected to return to midfield after being rested, likely moving Morgan Rogers back to the bench. Manager Tuchel is also considering starting Noni Madueke in place of Bukayo Saka, who has been managing an Achilles issue and appeared less effective in the last game.