England team news: Rashford, Rice, and Spence to start against DR Congo | OneFootball

Marcus Rashford has kept his place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line up for England’s World Cup round of 32 clash with DR Congo in Atlanta.

The Manchester United winger played the full 90 minutes of the Three Lions’ 2-0 victory over Panama in their final group game, having not made the cut after scoring off the bench in the 4-2 win over Croatia to begin their Group L campaign.

Rashford remains in a state of limbo, with Barcelona unwilling to exercise the £26m option to buy in his loan contract after the 28-year-old scored eight goals and assisted seven on their way to the La Liga title.

However, he has done enough to impress Tuchel and ward off new Blaugrana signing Anthony Gordon for the starting position at left wing, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Arsenal duo Noni Madueke and Declan Rice have also returned the to frame, with Bukayo Saka’s fitness still being monitored as he starts from the bench for the third time in four matches at the World Cup.

Morgan Rogers also started against Panama but has not won over his manager and has been dropped back to the bench for the round of 32 clash in Atlanta, with Djed Spence stepping in for the injured Jarrell Quansah and Reece James.

Questions were raised over Tuchel’s decision to omit Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold amid England’s selection crisis in his position, with Tino Livramento forced to withdraw due to a hamstring problem.

Trevor Chalobah was called up as his replacement and is capable of playing both at centre-back and full-back, but fears persist that Tuchel will lack the forward-thinking wide defenders that his system requires in order to have full effect.

England finished top of Group L on seven points from two wins and a goalless draw against Ghana.

For all the praise and criticism Tuchel has received in equal measure in his time as England boss since arriving in January, the clash with DR Congo is a first real test of his ability to grind out a victory against tricky opposition.

DR Congo held Portugal to a 1-1 to register their first ever World Cup point, before beating Uzbekistan 3-1 in their final match with the help of a brace from Yoane Wissa to qualify as the second best third-placed team.

It is their first ever appearance at the knockout stages, meaning England are largely expected to make it through to the round of 16 for the third World Cup tournament running – but this is the least that Three Lions fans expect of them.

England XI: Jordan Pickford (GK), Djed Spence, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane

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