Dugout Discussion
1 July 2026 215 comments
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England and DR Congo will tussle for the right to face Mexico in the Round of 16 in Atlanta this afternoon.

Kick-off is at 17:00 BST.

The Three Lions are the strong bookies’ favourites to prosper in this tie – but then again, Germany had similar match odds ahead of their clash with Paraguay…

TEAM NEWS

It’s pretty much as expected from Thomas Tuchel, who makes three alterations from the victory over Panama.

One is an enforced change at right-back as Djed Spence ($4.5m) comes in for the injured Jarell Quansah ($4.4m). Reece James ($5.2m) is still unable to feature, too.

Declan Rice ($7.0m), who wasn’t risked in England’s final group game, returns at Morgan Rogers‘ ($7.2m) expense.

And the careful management of Bukayo Saka ($9.5m) continues as Noni Madueke ($6.1m) replaces his Arsenal teammate on the right flank.

As for DR Congo, head coach Sebastien Desabre has made one change to the side that started against Uzbekistan.

Ngal’ayel Mukau ($4.9m) comes in for Cedric Bakambu ($6.5m).

Virtually all of the Fantasy interest is with England, with 15 of Tuchel’s squad boasting higher ownerships than DR Congo’s most-selected player!

Here are the players owned by more than 1% of managers in the official FIFA game:

LINE-UPS

England XI: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly, Rice, Anderson, Madueke, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane.

Subs: Dean Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Saka, Chalobah, Jordan Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Gordon, Watkins, Eze, Toney, James, Quansah.

DR Congo XI: Mpasi, Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba, Wan-Bissaka, Sadiki, Moutoussamy, Mukau, Cipenga, Wissa, Mbuku.

Subs: Fayulu, Epolo, Kapuadi, Batubinsika, Bongonda, Kakuta, Joris Kayembe, Elia, Tshibola, Bakambu, Pickel, Mayele, Banza, Kalulu, Edo Kayembe.


215 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 9 mins ago

    Trying to claim a penalty when the player can’t even see the ball is hilarious…

  2. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 9 mins ago

    Mahueke is a moron. Taking absurd shots straight into traffic

  3. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    3 hours, 8 mins ago

    Almost a second.

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      3 hours, 7 mins ago

      Shimmied off the post.

  4. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    Should have been 2-0, Wissa misses tap-in…

  5. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    Tuchel should just leave at halftime. Get a head start.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 25 mins ago

      And cheaper flight ticket before prices rise as all the fans book to come home..

  6. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    OMG Wissa post

  7. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 7 mins ago

    Kane dive lol

  8. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 6 mins ago

    Penalty coming from VAR....

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 6 mins ago

      or not

  9. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 6 mins ago

    This ref is so intelligent. I love him a lot

  10. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    3 hours, 6 mins ago

    Penalty claim turned down. Scorecard 10; for a dive.

    1. Feanor
      • 17 Years
      3 hours, 5 mins ago

      Kane did get the ball first, Keeper got no ball

      1. BeaversWithAttitude
        • 7 Years
        27 mins ago

        He got Kane's foot, instead.

    2. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      3 hours, 2 mins ago

      Nope keeper did not get the ball. Kane got only contact on the ball, then keeper got in his way. Penalty 100%

      1. St Pauli Walnuts
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 7 Years
        2 hours, 29 mins ago

        He was on his way down though before the contact

  11. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    3 hours, 6 mins ago

    That’s a dive, even with arms out for best water entry…

    1. The Florentine assassin
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 24 mins ago

      He got the touch 1st and keeper went all out and failed to get any of the ball. Yes player has gone over but he also had 1st and only contact on ball and keeper is in the way of the ball with absolutely no touch on ball. PENALTY 100%

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 21 mins ago

        Reckon it would have been given if Kane hadn’t over exaggerated…

        1. The Florentine assassin
          • 3 Years
          2 hours, 11 mins ago

          Kane over exaggerated but it was 100% a penalty. Kane got 1st contact on ball and goal keeper got zero contact on it . I would be adamant it was a penalty even if it was against Man Utd.

    2. Qaiss
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      Kane is a diver, water is wet

  12. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 5 mins ago

    So much pressure but what a competent Ref.

  13. The Florentine assassin
    • 3 Years
    3 hours, 5 mins ago

    England have played poorly but that was a stone wall penalty. NO DOUBT.

    1. PartyTime
      • 4 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      That's only a pen in the PL

      1. The Florentine assassin
        • 3 Years
        2 hours, 7 mins ago

        Nope 98/100 times it would be a penalty in this tournament. They may not give things like they used to in World cups when soft decisions were rampant , even more so than in the prem league. They have now for the better given less of those soft decisions but a player getting to the ball 1st and taking it past the keeper but having his run blocked and brought down by a keeper who gets zero contact on the ball is a penalty 100% no matter what Rooney claims to be the case.

        1. z13
          • 1 Year
          2 hours, 1 min ago

          There's the slightest touch and Kane literally dives to the floor in a way a swimmer would be proud of so not really imo

          1. The Florentine assassin
            • 3 Years
            1 hour, 36 mins ago

            There have been some fouls given in this very game for players getting blocked for a lot less than that 100% penalty. Kane got 1st touch and took ball past keeper. Ball was not out of control as even I would have got to that ball after the keeper is on the ground without getting a single touch but in such a way he blocks the player from getting to it. 100% penalty. Ref failed to give it and VR lacked balls to overturn it.

  14. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Woah, Glasner to Forest

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 8 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      Massive downgrade from Palace and the owner of Forest is a lunatic

      1. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        2 hours, 22 mins ago

        You’d only think it’s a downgrade but Glasner made Palace what they’ve been for the last 3 seasons

        At Forest he’ll get money to spend

        1. Bobby Digital
          • 8 Years
          2 hours, 18 mins ago

          I wonder if Glasner will get the time he needs for his team to gel though...

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        2 hours, 19 mins ago

        At least they initially show ambition, Nottingham

    2. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      2 hours, 23 mins ago

      NF to have 6 x managers during 26/27 season, Glasner sacked before GW1…

    3. Nomar
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 16 Years
      2 hours, 9 mins ago

      They might be able to get Tuechel if they wait another hour l!

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 5 mins ago

        Ha, ha…

  15. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    3 hours, 4 mins ago

    Commentators and Clattenburg all agree it was a penalty. Aghast the ref didn't even look at it on screen

    1. Jimmers
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 17 mins ago

      Of course they did. Ref isn't English...........

  16. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 3 mins ago

    Mpasi Mpasi Mpasi Mpasi Mpasi

  17. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

    If someone is running at speed and someone grabs both legs you're going down.

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 56 mins ago

      He was going down anyway, because he felt entitled to a pen. Can only blame himself

      1. Nomar
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 16 Years
        2 hours, 48 mins ago

        This

  18. puma
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 4 Years
    3 hours, 1 min ago

    Looked like a penalty to me. Kane got it first, goalie did not even touch the ball, but clipped Kane. Kane probably over emphasized the tiny clip, but looked enough to me as he was through on goal. (Perhaps a little heavy on the touch, but still think he taps in without the keeper clip)

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 18 mins ago

      Kane kicked him. Lost England an easy pen by simulating a foul instead of making it an actual foul. Did a Havertz. Seen em given but ref doesn’t have anything to give in this case except maybe a yellow to Kane, but that would be harsh. My 2 cents.

      1. BUZZBOMB ♡
        • 11 Years
        2 hours, 17 mins ago

        100% agree on everything you say

        1. Nomar
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 16 Years
          2 hours, 8 mins ago

          Also agree

          1. Deulofail
            • 10 Years
            2 hours, 3 mins ago

            Agreed

      2. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        2 hours, 14 mins ago

        Agreed

      3. Mozumbus
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 12 mins ago

        Agreed

      4. puma
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 4 Years
        2 hours, 2 mins ago

        Fair enough. This is why I'm not a world cup ref! 🙂 Anyway...hopefully a good second half.

    2. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      2 hours, 18 mins ago

      I think once the referee deems it a dive, the question becomes is there enough to overturn.
      I also feel it's a pen though

  19. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 59 mins ago

    Saved from Kane just before the break.

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      2 hours, 58 mins ago

      Mpasi - No past me.

  20. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 58 mins ago

    Another Mpesi wonder save…

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      2 hours, 55 mins ago

      Under save

  21. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 50 mins ago

    England haven’t won a WC match in which they have conceded first, since the 1966 WC final, yikes

    1. Deulofail
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 59 mins ago

      In 90 mins I presume

      1. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 hour, 44 mins ago

        No idea, saw it on BBC ticker, you know mean, details mean nowt..

        1. Deulofail
          • 10 Years
          1 hour, 35 mins ago

          It’s true for knockout games

  22. lilmessipran
    • 13 Years
    2 hours, 48 mins ago

    It's coming home or they're coming home?

  23. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    2 hours, 41 mins ago

    England should bring on £115m Anderson

  24. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 33 mins ago

    Whats with the crap corners from the top corner taker in the Prem

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 32 mins ago

      SRY BrunoF

  25. They are eating the dogs
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 33 mins ago

    Bellingham will dream about Mbasi tonight

    1. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      2 hours, 29 mins ago

      Nightmares

  26. SM001
    • 10 Years
    2 hours, 29 mins ago

    iMPASsable

  27. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 27 mins ago

    Shame this game wasn't at 3 in the morning; then I wouldn't have to watch it.

  28. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    2 hours, 27 mins ago

    Saka and Gordon on.

  29. Marvin.
    • 9 Years
    2 hours, 26 mins ago

    You will never get me to understand how Spence starts for England in a world cup while Trent is on holiday.

    1. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      1 hour, 46 mins ago

      I don't understand how he starts for Tottenham.

      1. Marvin.
        • 9 Years
        1 hour, 45 mins ago

        He doesn't does he?

      2. Jafooli
        • 14 Years
        1 hour, 44 mins ago

        Ha, ha, ha…

    2. bso
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 hour, 40 mins ago

      Beyond stupid

  30. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    2 hours, 21 mins ago

    Even if we scrape through here, this defence will be destroyed by most teams left in.