World Cup 2026: How England’s tactical tweaks turned the tide against DR Congo – analysis

The Three Lions are through to the last 16 of the World Cup following a late brace from Harry Kane to cancel out Brian Cipenga‘s opener which handed them a 2-1 win in Atlanta but it didn’t come easy.

England entered their Round of 32 clash in a familiar 4-2-3-1 shape, aiming to dominate possession and create overloads through the middle. Instead, they found themselves repeatedly stalled by a disciplined DR Congo side whose compact 4-3-3 mid-block denied space between the lines.

The selection of Djed Spence and Nico O’Reilly at full-back created balance issues in possession. Both naturally held wide positions, but their movements often overlapped with Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke, limiting England’s attacking variety. As a result, Jude Bellingham struggled to receive the ball in dangerous pockets, with DR Congo’s midfield trio of Samuel Moutoussamy, Ngal’ayel Mukau and Noah Sadiki screening central areas effectively.

Unable to play through the middle, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guéhi were left circulating possession across the back line. England’s attacks became predictable, relying on slow, sideways passing that allowed DR Congo to remain compact and comfortable without being stretched.

Congo’s transition game exposed England

While England monopolised possession, DR Congo posed the greater threat in transition. Their game plan centred on attacking the spaces left behind England’s advanced full-backs, and it paid off inside the opening 10 minutes.

Following a turnover in midfield, Chancel Mbemba stepped confidently out of defence to launch a quick counter before releasing play into the right channel. England’s counter-press lacked coordination, leaving Konsa and Guéhi retreating towards their own goal.

Brian Cipenga exploited the space superbly, darting diagonally across the English defence before calmly finishing to give the underdogs an early lead.

The goal only strengthened DR Congo’s defensive resolve. They dropped into an even deeper block, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Arthur Masuaku keeping England’s wingers quiet while Axel Tuanzebe marshalled the penalty area. Although England enjoyed 54 per cent possession during the first half, they created little of real danger as their attacks lacked penetration and tempo.

Substitutions transformed England’s attack

The turning point came just after the hour when England’s coaching staff recognised the need for genuine width rather than repeated movements into crowded central areas.

Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka replaced Rashford and Madueke, instantly changing England’s attacking profile. Instead of receiving to feet and drifting inside, Gordon consistently threatened the space behind Wan-Bissaka with aggressive runs down the left.

His direct running forced DR Congo’s back line to defend facing its own goal for the first time in the match, stretching the defensive shape horizontally.

England increased the pressure further by replacing Spence with Eberechi Eze, sacrificing defensive balance in favour of attacking numbers. The tactical adjustment created overloads in the half-spaces and forced Moutoussamy and Sadiki to leave their central positions to provide cover out wide.

That subtle shift finally gave Bellingham the freedom he had lacked throughout the first hour. With more space between the lines, England established quicker combinations through midfield and began finding Harry Kane in dangerous positions.

Gordon’s impact unlocks Kane

As the game entered its closing stages, England’s relentless pressure began to wear down DR Congo’s disciplined structure. Fatigue slowed defensive rotations, while England’s improved width stretched the back four beyond its earlier compact shape.

The equaliser arrived in the 75th minute when Gordon burst beyond his marker before delivering an inviting cross into the penalty area. Kane cleverly drifted away from Tuanzebe with a subtle double movement before powering his header beyond the goalkeeper.

Conceding forced DR Congo to abandon the deep defensive block that had served them so well. Chasing a winner created larger spaces between midfield and defence, precisely the scenario England had been trying to manufacture all evening.

The decisive moment arrived four minutes from time. Gordon again found space on the left and delivered a perfectly weighted cutback into Kane’s path. The England captain timed his run expertly before finishing clinically to complete the turnaround.

England’s victory ultimately owed less to domination of possession than to intelligent tactical adaptation. By introducing greater width, increasing attacking tempo and stretching DR Congo’s defensive shape through Gordon and Saka, they transformed a sterile first-half display into a convincing late comeback. Once the Congolese block was forced apart, Kane’s movement and finishing ensured England booked their place in the Round of 16.