England coach Tuchel faces squad criticism ahead of World Cup knockout

England entered the World Cup knockout stage as Group L winners after a 2‑0 victory over Panama, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scoring. Coach Thomas Tuchel now confronts pressure to select what he described as the team’s "strongest" line‑up for the upcoming match against DR Congo.

Critics argue Tuchel’s 26‑man squad, announced on 22 May, favoured versatile utility players over specialist full‑backs and other position‑specific talent. The lack of specialist full‑backs and limited bench quality has been highlighted as a potential weakness, with concerns that the team may be unable to make effective substitutions if needed. The debate centres on whether the chosen players can perform at a high level in multiple roles or if a more focused selection would improve England’s chances in the knockout rounds.