Declan Rice returns to England’s midfield, though Thomas Tuchel has a crisis at right-back with Reece James and Jarell Quansah injured. Djed Spence starts instead, while Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford are preferred to Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon out wide. England have never previously played DR Congo, who have reached the World Cup knockout phase for the first time on their second finals appearance after topping the third-place standings following a Group K campaign in which they drew with Portugal.
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