England narrowly avoided a historic World Cup disaster against DR Congo, needing two late goals from Harry Kane to secure a spot in the last 16. Despite the win, head coach Thomas Tuchel is left with significant questions regarding his team’s composition and tactical stability ahead of their match against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.
While Kane and Jude Bellingham continue to lead the side, England’s reliance on their star duo is becoming a liability. Other squad members have struggled to provide consistent support, forcing Tuchel to shuffle his defensive lines repeatedly. The right-back position remains a glaring concern, illustrated by the decision to move midfielder Declan Rice to that role during the DR Congo fixture.
Former players including Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney have voiced concerns regarding the team’s defensive fragility and lack of cohesion in midfield. Critics argue that Tuchel has failed to find a balanced starting eleven, noting his continued exclusion of creative midfielders and his reluctance to trust backup strikers like Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney. With a challenging match against co-hosts Mexico approaching, the pressure is on Tuchel to resolve these persistent issues or risk a swift exit from the tournament.
