Declan Rice is back in contention for England's last-32 tie with Congo DR, and that should steady the midfield straight away. The bigger issue sits behind him. Thomas Tuchel goes into England vs Congo DR still unsure at right-back, with Reece James a doubt, Jarell Quansah a major doubt and the squad already missing Valentino Livramento.

Rice missed the 2-0 win over Panama after a heavy blow to his calf in the goalless draw with Ghana. He returned in time for England's final training session before the squad travelled to New Jersey, which is why the expectation is that he comes straight back into the side.

Tuchel sounded relaxed about Rice's condition. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "He's just in a sweet spot after his injury. He's happy to play again, he just feels free. He needs to play with this intensity, he loves to play on this kind of stage."

Rice has made 2 World Cup appearances, played 162 minutes and has 1 assist. Those are not huge numbers in isolation, but they do tell you England are getting back a starter rather than testing a fringe option in a knockout tie.

The selection headache at right-back

Tuchel was much blunter on the other problem. He told standard.co.uk: "Naturally, of course I am worried about the right-back situation. We have another injury in the position. It will be a tight race for Reece James and a tight race for Jarell Quansah, but it is our job to find solutions and we will do."

That is the key line going into this match. Rice improves England. The right-back situation could reshape the team.

Livramento withdrew from the squad on the eve of the tournament with a calf issue, and that early loss has become more serious as the knockout stage arrives. James has not been confirmed in or out for this game, so England cannot build the plan around him yet. Quansah's situation looks similar, except with more concern around the immediate turnaround.

Tuchel said of Quansah's injury: "A classic ankle twist and he is in pain. He said he had it before and it is a matter of days. He has his leg up high and in ice."

That does not amount to an official ruling out, but it does make him look unlikely for a game arriving this quickly. The most sensible read is that Djed Spence becomes the practical answer, even if England would rather have had a more settled pecking order by now.

The workload criticism around Rice is easier to dismiss than the right-back concern. He has only 162 tournament minutes, and his 7.0 World Cup rating points to a player who has been solid when available. England's risk is not overusing Rice. It is asking an uncertain back line to improvise in a knockout match.

Rice changes the midfield picture

Rice's return should still help England's balance. Against Panama, Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham carried the middle well enough, and Anderson's 7.5 rating gave Tuchel a genuine alternative rather than a stopgap.

Paul Scholes argued for a more attacking choice, telling football365.com: "England don't need to play two sitting midfielders in the next game. No disrespect to Congo but in those type of games you play as many attackers as possible. I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson. I think he will pass it forward a bit more. Arsenal didn't play great football last season either, did they? Rice couldn't get Martin Odegaard in the game, so maybe that's transferred a bit to England. I don't think that happens with Anderson."

It is a fair debate, but Rice's return still looks like the stronger call. England are entering the knockout phase, not chasing a group-stage tune-up, and his presence gives them more certainty if the game gets scrappy or stretched.

Congo DR have earned some respect here. They reached the World Cup knockout phase for the first time in their history after taking 4 points from the group stage with a +1 goal difference. Their results, a 1-1 draw with Portugal, a 1-0 defeat to Colombia and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, suggest a side that rarely loses control of games.

That could make Rice useful in a different way. England may not need him to dominate the ball as much as they need him to cover transitions and keep the structure clean if players such as Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu, Fiston Mayele or Noah Sadiki find space to break.

The balance of the tie

England should feel better with Rice available again, especially with Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon and the rest of the attack likely to benefit from a more stable midfield base. But the team news still points to defence as the more delicate area.

Tuchel can probably restore one problem before kick-off. He may still have to patch the other. England face DR Congo on 1 July with Rice expected back and the right-back question still hanging over the tie.

FAQ

Will Declan Rice start for England against DR Congo?

Rice is expected to start, but England have not confirmed the team. He missed the 2-0 win over Panama after taking a heavy blow to his calf in the goalless draw with Ghana, then returned for England's final training session before the squad travelled to New Jersey. Tuchel said Rice is in a good place physically and wants to play.

Why is England's right-back situation a problem before DR Congo?

Tuchel has openly said he is worried about the right-back situation. Reece James is a doubt, Jarell Quansah is a major doubt after an ankle twist, and Tino Livramento withdrew from the squad on the eve of the tournament with a calf issue. That leaves England searching for a solution, with Djed Spence the likely next option.

Should England keep Elliot Anderson in midfield if Rice is fit?

Anderson gave England a credible option against Panama and posted a 7.5 rating in that game, so there is a real case for keeping him involved. Still, Rice's return looks important for control and experience. He has already played 162 World Cup minutes and has one assist, which makes England's midfield feel more settled if he comes back in.

Are DR Congo a tougher World Cup opponent than England expected?

They are not a soft draw. DR Congo reached the knockout phase for the first time in their history and came through the group with 4 points and a +1 goal difference. Their results were a 1-1 draw with Portugal, a 1-0 loss to Colombia and a 3-1 win over Uzbekistan, which points to a team comfortable in tight games.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 11 outlets. How we work →