England manager Thomas Tuchel has told English fans not to expect “glamorous performances” at this stage of the competition – and he’s expecting a “game of patience” against DR Congo.
The Three Lions came top of Group L despite drawing 0-0 with Ghana, and then scoring twice in the second half to beat Panama 2-0 in the last group game
Tuchel says fans will only see the “best version” of England when teams actually decide to step onto them.
“We will see the best version of us if we overcome the next rounds and go further in the tournament – once we play the level where teams want to actually beat us and not just to hold us down and refuse to play,” Tuchel told BBC Sport.
“I think this is not the moment now to shine and to expect glamourous performances. This is the moment to go through, to get the job done, to step up, to show individual quality.”
Tuchel believes DR Congo’s defensive nature will mean England fans may watch similar displays to that of the Ghana and Panama game.
“No-one created chances against them,” Tuchel said of the African side.
“No-one has scored a lot of goals against them. Colombia struggled, Portugal struggled.
“They are just so committed to defending, so proud to defend, so well-drilled. It can be a game of patience again.
“I expect it to be very difficult, I can promise you it will not be a draw tomorrow, this is clear, we will find a winner, and we expect a kind of similar game like we faced against Ghana and Panama.
“A physical and quick team, a devoted team, we arrive as favourites and they can play in a role of underdog, which suits them very well.
“All this is on the table, but it is just important to accept all these things and then focus on what we can influence and be the best version of ourselves as we have the team spirit and commitment.
“We have the quality to turn half chances into chances, to make difficult crosses to defend, to arrive with numbers in the box and to decide this match in maybe very few key moments.
“We have the quality, we have to trust, the belief, but we respect our opponent and we accept the situation of knockout football of course.”
