Why England's Round of 32 World Cup tie against D.R. Congo may not be plain sailing

[p]The Three Lions weren't at their best against fellow African side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ghana/nNBjHale/"]Ghana[/a] during the group stages, and that could be a blueprint for Sebastien Desabre to follow if he wants his team to frustrate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Harry Kane[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a] and Co.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=nkoQVAgB"]Follow England vs D.R. Congo with Flashscore![/a][/b][/p][h2]DR Congo out to frustrate England[/h2][p]Indeed, it's worth pondering just how Desabre's tactics ensured that between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/denmark/0KUdxQVi/"]Denmark[/a] in a warm-up fixture, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] as well as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colombia/G02s4PCS/"]Colombia[/a] in the group games, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a] conceded only two goals, and only allowed four more shots on their goal than [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] themselves managed in the group stage.[/p][p]The back five employed by Desabre certainly frustrated the likes of Ronaldo and others, and Tuchel's teams have generally struggled against a low block.[/p][embed guid="650b70c1-9a82-4be9-be9c-5c2ef551eb7e" url="https://x.com/England/status/2072206066595819927" social-type="twitter" /][p]If the Congolese allow England to hit their stride as they did in their opening game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], for example, then it could be a long afternoon for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wissa-yoane/b35gWzB2/"]Yoane Wissa[/a] and his teammates, so it stands to reason that Desabre isn't going to allow that to happen.[/p][p]The issue for the Africans is that in England's last six matches in all competitions, Tuchel's side have only conceded three goals themselves, two of which came against Croatia, and in World Cup knockout games, England have a 100% record against African opposition.[/p][h2]African sides have been Tuchel's Achilles heel[/h2][p]They've won four of those six, drawing one and losing the other, whilst scoring 10 goals in the process. By contrast, D.R. Congo have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six, scoring six times and conceding on five occasions.[/p][p]What's interesting from a neutral perspective is that in 14 of England's last 15 wins, they've kept a clean sheet, and yet in the 17 games that Tuchel has overseen, African sides have accounted for half of England's failures to surge to victory.[/p][embed guid="991ddad9-caf2-4426-b03c-796756f56ebe" url="https://x.com/England/status/2072251363950559485" social-type="twitter" /][p]It's clear, therefore, that the Three Lions need to do something different against a country that has never got this far at the World Cup before.[/p][p]In Wissa, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wan-bissaka-aaron/faGmGOOh/"]Aaron Wan-Bissaka[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/masuaku-arthur/4YoV0hmC/"]Arthur Masuaku[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tuanzebe-axel/l21PrfBG/"]Axel Tuanzebe[/a], the Congolese have players with Premier League experience, whilst the likes of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bakambu-cedric/vZ3QJXBc/"]Cedric Bakambu[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbemba-chancel/U5hu6oJh/"]Chancel Mbemba[/a] are others who have played in elite European leagues.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][h2]Low-scoring encounter expected[/h2][p]Furthermore, not since March 2022 have the Leopards been beaten by more than a single goal, suggesting that this game could be a potential banana skin for England if they don't take the assignment seriously.[/p][p]Anyone expecting a goal fest might be disappointed, too, given the fact that in seven of the last nine games involving the Three Lions, under 2.5 goals have been scored, whilst 13 of D.R. Congo's previous 16 matches have also not seen more than 2.5 goals.[/p][embed guid="f5c0882c-fa36-43ee-a97a-ce420e2c144d" url="https://x.com/FecofaRdc/status/2071995106471604237" social-type="twitter" /][p]England will no doubt rely on the combative thrust of Bellingham and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] in midfield, and the goalscoring prowess of Kane, who has already surpassed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lineker-gary/tb3p0saj/"]Gary Lineker[/a] as England's greatest-ever World Cup goalscorer (11 to date).[/p][p]Nine big chances missed in the group stages by Tuchel's side were the most of any team, though, so if they are able to get in behind what's more than likely to be a stubborn D.R. Congo defensive line, England absolutely must take their chances.[/p][h2]England's defensive issues[/h2][p]In so doing, it will force their opponents to come out and play, and that's when the Three Lions can benefit.[/p][p]The longer the game stays goalless, the more frustration is likely to creep in from an England point of view, and D.R. Congo are perfectly capable of taking advantage, particularly as Tuchel will have to make do and mend on the right side of defence.[/p][embed guid="8a6cd1a5-166f-4ed7-9a67-c634f1ac0885" url="https://x.com/FecofaRdc/status/2072241254897730013" social-type="twitter" /][p]With [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/livramento-valentino/fkessXOF/"]Tino Livramento[/a] having already been ruled out before a ball was kicked in the group stage, the coach could well have done without further injuries to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-reece/nLBC7ERa/"]Reece James[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/quansah-jarell/KtIpCeFE/"]Jarell Quansah[/a].[/p][p]It leaves Tuchel with a decision as to whether to play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/spence-djed/GQAxKWes/"]Djed Spence[/a] there or look at other potential options, which is hardly ideal for such an important game. [/p][image alt="England v DR Congo - Live win probability" id="92ceb275-a15b-46f7-b308-892a838e3612" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="043a2b20-48aa-4d26-b4e7-7594c7abb678" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Rice has also been playing through the pain barrier, which could mean that [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rogers-morgan/lp4jm80n/"]Morgan Rogers[/a] is given a longer run-out than usual if things are going relatively well for England.[/p][p]The game is intriguing for a number of reasons, of course, and these types of matches are rarely straightforward for either side.[/p][p]England remains the overwhelming favourite, but don't be surprised if this is a much closer affair than expected.[/p][infobox id="8a8311c3-81b3-440e-8b49-36091db073d1" /]