Scouting DR Congo: How England Can Exploit Their High Press

In the knockout stages of a major tournament, no opponent can be underestimated. Germany's elimination at the hands of Paraguay—a team that started the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Mauricio Pochettino's USA—serves as a stark reminder. England's next opponents, DR Congo, finished third in their group after beating Uzbekistan, drawing with Portugal, and losing to Colombia. They face England on Wednesday at 17:00 BST, live on BBC One and iPlayer.

Formation and Style of Play

Throughout the tournament, DR Congo have deployed a consistent 5-3-2 formation, both in and out of possession. Their average possession stands at 38.8%, far below England's 65.7%—second only to Spain's 70.3%. This suggests a defense-first approach focused on counter-attacks. However, despite their low possession, DR Congo are surprisingly proactive in their defending, pressing high from goal-kick situations against ball-dominant opponents like Portugal and Colombia. They hold a higher defensive line than expected and apply pressure to the ball carrier and nearby teammates.

Potential Weaknesses for England to Exploit

These aggressive defensive traits, while proactive, present opportunities for England. From goal-kicks, DR Congo's two strikers and three midfielders push forward to press the opposition's goalkeeper, center-backs, and holding midfielder. Their wing-backs press the full-backs, leaving their three center-backs to defend against three attackers. This man-to-man approach across the pitch can be exploited by England's squad, which is accustomed to dealing with high presses, particularly at the Premier League level. Head coach Thomas Tuchel will rely on his team's technical quality to avoid errors under pressure.

Wide Full-Backs as a Key Weapon

England may find success by using wide full-backs in deeper areas. By playing low, they force DR Congo's wing-backs to cover larger distances to press. When found in these situations, England's full-backs gain more time and space on the ball. This could lead to England returning to their strategy of attacking down the flanks through what Tuchel calls their "wide units"—full-back, midfielder, and winger—rotating to pull DR Congo players out of position.

Tuchel's Tactical Approach

Tuchel has built his squad to entice pressure before "accelerating through the middle third," a phrase used by England assistant coach Anthony Barry. The idea is to pull the opponent's attack and midfield away from the defensive line, creating more space and fewer defenders between the attackers and goal. This explains why players like Elliot Anderson and Harry Kane sometimes launch direct passes from deep to powerful runners in behind, and why England performed better against a pressing Croatia side than against a passive Ghana. Whether DR Congo press high or defend in a mid-block, they have consistently applied forward pressure against Colombia and Portugal. Tuchel will likely hope they stick to that plan, as his side looks to release the likes of Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon, and Noni Madueke in behind.