England May Shake Things Up for DR Congo Match as Thomas Tuchel Plans Three Key Changes to World Cup Squad

ENGLAND look certain to make two changes against DR Congo on Wednesday – and Thomas Tuchel must decide whether to make a third.

Djed Spence should start at right-back in place of Jarell Quansah who in the 2-0 win over Panama on Saturday.

Jarell Quansah suffered an ankle injury against Panama Credit: Alamy England are preparing to face DR Congo Credit: Shutterstock Editorial

Quansah’s injury is not thought to be serious but Spurs defender Spence, who started the second group game at left-back, is expecting to start in Atlanta at right-back.

Reece James, who has , looks certain to also miss Wednesday but is still hopeful of playing some part in the tournament if England progress.

Declan Rice, who was rested on the bench on Saturday, should start in place of Morgan Rogers who played alongside Jude Bellingham in New Jersey.

Tuchel will stick with Jordan Pickford in goal, Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi in central defence and Nico O’Reilly at left-back with partnering Rice in midfield.

Bukayo Saka should keep his place on the right, Bellingham as the No10 and Harry Kane up front.

So the big decision for Tuchel is whether to stick with Marcus Rashford on the left or restore Anthony Gordon to the starting line-up.

Tuchel has been frustrated with both and Manchester United winger Rashford, who was on loan at the Nou Camp last season.

Other options for Tuchel would be to play either Rogers or Eberechi Eze on the left.

Marcus Rashford (left) could get the nod to start Credit: Getty

It looks, though, that could get the nod even though he often has more impact as a sub.

Tuchel, 52, has previously said that his players have yet to “click” down the left.

He said: “It’s more about the unit on the left side than it is individuals or a case of ‘the winger didn’t do enough’.

“The unit on the left side hasn’t provided the same quality as they did in the friendly.

“They were so good. I saw the game against Costa Rica and thought, ‘okay, the left side is solved, this unit, they found their link’.

“Marcus came on the left side, together with Ebs (Eze) and , and they did so well. So I thought, ‘Oh, we have two units. They know what they’re doing and they’re clicking’.

“It turns out we played the first match and they’re not clicking, I’m not even sure why, but it was not the same amount of connection, not the same amount of penetration, not the same amount of verticality, and this was the same in the second match.

“I don’t know the reason for it. I still trust all of them, I still trust them to get better.

“Marcus is just also very good from the bench, and it’s sometimes nice to hold someone back.

“He struggled to have the same influence for us from the start, and yet from the bench he was always pushing.”