England XI vs DR Congo: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for World Cup

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Evening Standard

·29 de junio de 2026

England XI vs DR Congo: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for World Cup

Thomas Tuchel has a big decision to make in defence but Declan Rice is pushing for a return

A right-back crisis threatens to disrupt England’s World Cup ahead of their round of 32 match against DR Congo.

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Jarell Quansah suffered an injury that forced him off against Panama and that leaves England with no fit right-backs for Wednesday’s match in Atlanta unless he can shrug it off.

It comes after Tino Livramento dropped out of England’s World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament with a calf injury and then Reece James suffered a hamstring issue that kept him out of Panama and is expected to see him miss DR Congo.

Thomas Tuchel may have to turn to Djed Spence — who is in the squad as a left-back — or shift centre-back Ezri Konsa to the right and bring John Stones back in centrally as he looks for a solution at right-back.

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

“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.”