England look to step up against tricky DR Congo test in Round of 32

[p]Thomas Tuchel's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] topped Group L, grinding past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] in a ‌2-0 win that secured first place and a simpler path in the ‌knockout rounds on paper. The performance level, however, remains a concern.[/p][p]England were held to a ‌frustrating scoreless draw by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a], and laboured again against Panama for over an ‌hour before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a] got them over the line. As the tournament goes on, others will need to step up.[/p][p]Since their opening 4-2 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], England have ‌looked short on imagination, low on attacking threat, ⁠and lacking the ruthlessness expected of title ‌contenders.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=nkoQVAgB"]Wednesday in Atlanta[/a] offers no room for complacency.[/b][/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a] pose real threat[/h2][p]DR Congo finished as the highest-ranked third-place ​finisher, a team who came close to going out but will have emerged all the stronger after coming through.[/p][p]Their 3-1 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/uzbekistan/EZYKKRMc/"]Uzbekistan[/a], ​also played in Atlanta, was a must-win match, and after going behind to an early goal, they struggled to turn things around until awarded a penalty ⁠midway through the second half.[/p][p][b]Sebastien ​Desabre's side played with two up front against Uzbekistan. Against England, however, they will almost certainly revert to five at the back, which they utilised in a 1-1 draw with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a], and 1-0 loss to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a].[/b][/p][p]For DR Congo, this World Cup is already a success, and a redemption for their only previous appearance.[/p][p]In 1974, with the country then called Zaire, a swift exit arrived on the back of three defeats, where they failed to score a goal and conceded 14, nine of those coming in the loss ‌to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/yugoslavia/Sdms73rH/"]Yugoslavia[/a].[/p][p]They finally made their World Cup return, and did it the hard ​way, seeing off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jamaica/CWmDb3zj/"]Jamaica[/a] in their inter-confederation playoff and despite their pre-World ‌Cup preparations being affected by the Ebola crisis back home, the Congolese are still here.[/p][h2]Problem position for England[/h2][p]England will likely have key midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]‌Declan Rice[/a] back in the starting lineup, but problems remain at right back.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-reece/nLBC7ERa/"]Reece James[/a] missed the Panama win with a hamstring issue, and his replacement [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quansah-jarell/KtIpCeFE/"]Jarell Quansah[/a] went off with an ankle injury. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/spence-djed/GQAxKWes/"]Djed Spence[/a] is expected to start against DR Congo.[/b][/p][p]England are one of the countries expected to go far in this tournament as they aim to end their 60-year wait for World Cup success, but will need to raise their intensity if they are ⁠to overcome a DR Congo side with ⁠nothing to lose.[/p][p]A place in ‌the last 16 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ecuador/8tbm8Tri/"]Ecuador[/a] awaits the winners.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=nkoQVAgB"]Follow Flashscore for all the build-up to England vs DR Congo.[/a][/b][/p]