Dugout Discussion
1 July 2026 215 comments
Skonto Rigga Skonto Rigga
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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. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 41 mins ago

    Sub Bellingham for Messi?

    1. JBG
      • 8 Years
      28 mins ago

      No

  2. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    1 hour, 40 mins ago

    And the prize - the Estadio Azteca awaits

    1. puma
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 4 Years
      1 hour, 24 mins ago

      It was crazy last night. Sunday is going to be big.

  3. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 36 mins ago

    At least DR Congo have given England a good scare. Respect.

    Bellingham lucky not to get a second yellow,

    Wissa misser.

    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 19 mins ago

      What a pissa

  4. They are eating the dogs
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 36 mins ago

    Anderson is the most expensive rug

  5. Travel Notes
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 35 mins ago

    Mexico here we come!

  6. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 35 mins ago

    CDR done themselves proud

  7. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 35 mins ago

    England win, advance and face Mexico next.

  8. Weasel Boy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 34 mins ago

    Think Mexico will be too tough for England.

  9. PartyTime
    • 4 Years
    1 hour, 34 mins ago

    Cartel boys waiting to eat those English pies

    1. Moon Dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 1 Year
      1 hour, 17 mins ago

      How's your pie tasting?

      1. PartyTime
        • 4 Years
        1 hour, 16 mins ago

        Salty

        1. Freshy
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          1 hour, 3 mins ago

          Pure Kane Sugar

  10. Nightcrawler
    • 7 Years
    1 hour, 33 mins ago

    Kane 28 points stick or twist on captaincy?

    Have kdb Bruno Messi Dest Munoz/Diaz still to go

    1. Weasel Boy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 hour, 32 mins ago

      I'd stick

    2. Freshy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 23 mins ago

      Messi vs Jordan is a temptress

      1. CoracAld2831
        • 5 Years
        1 hour, 17 mins ago

        Cape Verde.

    3. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 18 mins ago

      Obviously stick

    4. MOTHRA
      • 10 Years
      1 hour, 2 mins ago

      Stick

  11. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 18 mins ago

    England playing too high up the pitch and struggling to create clear chances. Not ideal tournament football.

    Even France play deeper and their attack is the best in the world.

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      28 mins ago

      England created plenty clear chances

    2. Travel Notes
      • 3 Years
      3 mins ago

      Kane can't run as fast as Mbappe.

  12. MOTHRA
    • 10 Years
    1 hour, 3 mins ago

    Despite not conceding, Rangel is not good. Lacks concentration and technique. He’ll make an error if tested.

  13. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    1 hour, 1 min ago

    Does Tuchel have the guts to end the Madueke Madness?

    1. Nightcrawler
      • 7 Years
      4 mins ago

      The only reason he must have got selected was his partnership is good with Ben white. Don't know if squad selection was announced before white injury or not. He is dreadful apart from that. Poor defensively too. Spencer wasn't even at fault for the goal it was madueke

  14. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    55 mins ago

    Belgium

    GK T. Courtois
    DL M. De Cuyper
    DC A. Theate
    DC B. Mechele
    DR T. Castagne
    DMC Hans Vanaken
    DMC Y. Tielemans
    AML L. Trossard
    AMC K. De Bruyne
    AMR Jeremy Doku
    FW C. De Ketelaere

    Senegal

    GK Mory Diaw
    DL I. Jakobs
    DC M. Niakhate
    DC Pathe Ciss
    DR K. Diatta
    MC I. Gueye
    MC Habib Diarra
    MC Pape Gueye
    FWL Sadio Mane
    FWR I. Ndiaye
    FW Ismaila Sarr

  15. Feanor
    • 17 Years
    54 mins ago

    Rice looked utterly exhausted. Next game at altitude in 4 days time.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      4 mins ago

      Yeah, most of English first team are gassed, not enough depth on the bench to rotate them off for a rest…

  16. The Mandalorian
    • 13 Years
    33 mins ago

    Tonali joins Spurs

    Spurs and Chelsea looking good for FPL next season.

    1. Jafooli
      • 14 Years
      3 mins ago

      How have Spurs gone from 2 x 17th to suddenly attracting great talent?

  17. Jafooli
    • 14 Years
    15 mins ago

    How has Kane gone from being basically near end or career at last World Cup, to world class in run up to and during this World Cup - pretty impressive turnaround…It was Spurs wasn’t it?

  18. gooberman
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    10 mins ago

    I'm making the assumption that Elliot Anderson has qualities given the amount of money City are spending on him and they obviously know what they are doing but I just can't work out what he does other than re-cycle the ball around, largely from side to side. He must have played about 2 meaningful forward passes in that game.

    Is this like a thing in football now, being good at re-cycling the ball and keeping possession and he does it the best?