The real work starts now. England are into the World Cup knockout stage and will face DR Congo for the first time ever on Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s side have fired in fits and starts so far, with plenty of changes to his starting lineup in the group stage against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Now, there are no second chances and he has a number of selection dilemmas facing him this week. Did Bukayo Saka do enough to prove his fitness over Noni Madueke? Will Marcus Rashford retain his place? Does Jude Bellingham stay as a No 8? And how do England fill the growing hole at right back?
Here, our team of experts covering the World Cup out in North America have selected their lineups to beat DR Congo and set up a last-16 clash with either Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.
Oliver Holt
Chief Sports Writer
Bellingham was superb in the deeper-lying midfield role but England’s defence, their achilles’ heel, looked exposed against Panama and that can’t happen again.
Bellingham will excel wherever he plays so I’d move him back to 10 and bring back Rice, if he is fit.
I’d bring back Stones, too. I know he didn’t impress against Croatia but England miss his composure when he isn’t there.
Right back’s a mess. Ezri Konsa looks like the best option.
Ian Ladyman
Football Editor
Right back is a problem but I don’t think Djed Spence is the answer.
I would shuffle Konsa over to plug the gap and ask Stones to fit in to his natural position on the right side of the centre-back pairing. He played out of position on the left against Croatia.
Bellingham was excellent as a box-to-box 8 against Panama but we can’t leave Rice out if he is fit so Jude should move up behind Kane once again.
I didn’t understand the criticism of Rashford after Panama. He did fine and it should be his spot to lose now.
Craig Hope
Chief Football Reporter
I’d be tempted to put Rice at right back, especially given how good Bellingham was breaking forward from a deeper starting point of No 8.
But Tuchel needs his resistance in midfield – Panama broke on England far too easily – and Bellingham looks in the mood to impact from any domain. Konsa is the safest bet at right back.
Elsewhere, I’d start Madueke ahead of Saka – not because I fancy Madueke, but more so because Saka looks far better from the bench right now.
Jack Gaughan
England Reporter
I’d tweak the system slightly and play two No 8s in Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, basically to give the latter more space to run into when going forward and not forcing him to collect the ball with back to goal.
Right back is clearly an issue with Jarell Quansah and Reece James struggling. Ezri Konsa has done it before and it’s a flip of a coin between him and Djed Spence.
Thomas Tuchel will likely go for Spence but I’d want John Stones back in the side.
Mike Keegan
Chief Sports Reporter
Much has been said and written about Bukayo Saka’s fitness and England’s right back crisis but here is an attempt to kill two birds with one stone – play him there.
Saka was the highest-rated defender of the entire round (and scored) when England beat Switzerland on penalties in the 2024 Euros quarter-final in a wing-back role.
While Marcus Rashford made a strong-ish case against Panama, I don’t think we should be giving up on Anthony Gordon after two under-par performances. He is due a good one – and so are England.
Ian Herbert
Deputy Chief Sports Writer
Get Declan Rice back! I watched a lot of Arsenal last season – and in places where the going wasn’t easy, like Wolves in the snow in February. He was the only leader that night at Molineux and can bring the composure England need now.
For me he’s not talked up enough. It’s always Bellingham getting all the glowing write-ups for England. I’d want Rice back as the midfield shield. That would also allow Bellingham back into the 10 role where he can be at his most dangerous.
I’m a big Madueke fan, too. I’d stick with him from my last XI, with my repeated assessment that Rashford is better than Gordon looking pretty accurate so far. And still Guehi over Stones.
Riath Al-Samarrai
Chief Sports Feature Writer
Spence is in there through necessity and the mess of Tuchel’s own making, while Bellingham returns to his No 10 slot.
I’ve always advocated for him playing the deeper role, but cannot justify leaving out Rice and Anderson has done enough to keep his place for now. Dropping Bellingham further back is a decent option for a tactical shift later in the game.
Saka has a bit to prove on the right.
