Why DR Congo will be no pushovers as World Cup finally gets serious for England
· Yahoo Sports
As Thomas Tuchel got to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, he couldn’t stop smiling.
“I just love it,” the England manager said, talking about knockout football. “It just gives an extra edge. I love these situations, and I feel it is a privilege.”
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It is precisely that attitude, and how it has translated into multiple cup runs and three trophies, that was intended to finally give England an edge in tournaments. Tuchel was appointed because of his success in knockout competition, and now here he and his team are primed.
If the German loves the energy this brings, though, his team and their fans may not exactly enjoy this first ever last-32 tie for England.
The Democratic Republic of Congo may seem like more forgiving opposition than others that England could have faced – including Senegal – but they are not expected to give Tuchel’s side an inch.
“Now, in the first knockout, we will face a copy of Ghana, a copy of Panama, a proud team, a defensive team, a committed team to defending, a quick team, happy to counterattack.”
Thomas Tuchel and Jordan Pickford speak to the media in Atlanta (Getty)And more than happy with their World Cup so far. They’ve already frustrated Portugal, with a 1-1 draw, before getting this far thanks to a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan.
Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa has been the key player, among a few players with Premier League experience such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Noah Sadiki.
Aside from the rise of African football in this World Cup, the players fire a few individual storylines. There’s something of an irony with Wan-Bissaka, given that he was eligible for England and Tuchel is now struggling for right-backs. With Reece James and Jarrel Quansah confirmed out, he will have to turn to Ezri Konsa or Djed Spence.
Wissa meanwhile endured a difficult season with Newcastle, after all the controversy of his move from Brentford. His very comments before this game, however, put that into necessary perspective.
“We deserve to play England,” Wissa said, on securing third-place in the group. “We have worked hard for this. You know, it’s not easy in our country. There is war in eastern Congo. Every time we wear this shirt, we think about them.”
Yoane Wissa celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's third goal against Uzbekistan (Getty)It’s also been confirmed that Congolese fans will be allowed to gather for the match, despite recent bans due to fears of Ebola outbreaks.
That says enough. If this match is evidently a fixture almost beyond the imagination of Congolese fans, despite the robust quality of their team, it is almost unthinkable that England actually go out.
That isn’t intended as any disrespect now but more the recent history of the team, and that very rationale for appointing Tuchel.
What happens if he fails at this stage? What would the repercussions be? It would be worse than England’s last shock exit, to Iceland in 2016, given the changed context.
The very prospect nevertheless prompts the kind of energy, and edge, that the German is talking about.
All of that is also tempered by another reality. If England play as they can, and all goes normally – to use Tuchel’s own description – they will win.
“We prepared in the best way possible, in a completely normal way. There are no extra needs. We don’t need to do extra stuff. We just need to be the best version of ourselves. We don’t need anything extra in these stages, but just trust and believe in ourselves that we have what it takes.
“Of course, tomorrow we accept and respect the quality of the opponent, and the fact that anything can happen. That’s why we love this match. We have a fantastic group, an experienced group. But of course we’re nervous and of course we feel the pressure.”
Harry Kane in training before England's match with DR Congo (Reuters)That would be natural given the spirit running through these last 32. So many teams have been emboldened by Paraguay’s victory over Germany, and even how Japan came so close against Brazil.
The floor of international football at this level has clearly been raised, and it makes it more likely that big names can be toppled.
Tuchel insisted that can have the opposite effect – in making England attuned to the challenge.
“I think it can calm us down, in a way. It is narrow margins. In the World Cup, teams are well drilled, teams are defending on the highest level. It is difficult to break teams down. For me, it almost helps us to calm our mind to accept the situation.”
And Tuchel said that composure is going be essential, given the likely complexion of the game. England are going to have to battle through.
“Still you face a team that don’t allow a lot of chances. It can be tiring, it can be a bit nerve-racking. It can be monotonous to break this block down.
“But that’s where the energy goes to, where the mindset has to be: that we don’t freak out; we don’t start to doubt. We keep believing and do our things. Encourage the players, because clearly there is commitment and togetherness.”
That’s what Tuchel loves, but not as much as a knockout victory.