Atlanta, USA – England manager Thomas Tuchel affirmed that his players displayed great character against the Democratic Republic of Congo, successfully turning a deficit into a 2-1 victory. With this win, the Three Lions secured their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Tuchel, in comments reported by FIFA’s official website, said that the English team had experienced difficult moments from the opening minutes. However, he did not lose faith in their ability to get back into the game.
He added: “It was the worst start we could have imagined. We conceded a goal from our first real chance, but we continued to believe in our ability to come back and we didn’t lose our focus”.
The German coach noted that the water break gave his team a chance to regroup. He explained: “After the break, we took control of the game, and the substitutes gave us a boost and performed brilliantly, which helped us turn the game around and secure the victory”.
Tuchel stressed that the mental factor was the key to victory, saying: “In matches like these, we must be calm and confident. When things get more complicated, we must hold on to our belief and work until the end”.
The coach also praised the performance of DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Mbassi, emphasizing that he made several crucial saves. He was one of the main reasons the match remained evenly contested until the final minutes.
England had fallen behind, but their captain, Harry Kane, led them to a comeback, scoring the equalizer in the 74th minute with a superb header from a cross by substitute Anthony Gordon. He then scored the winning goal in the 86th minute with a powerful shot into the top corner, securing England’s place in the round of 16.
