England were 15 minutes from one of the most abject humiliations in their World Cup history until Harry Kane’s late heroics rescued them against DR Congo. Now they face Mexico in the last 16 at the iconic Azteca Stadium – a nation alive with passion and football fever – and head coach Thomas Tuchel has a raft of unresolved issues.
Kane scored twice to spare Tuchel, who may not have survived a result that would have ranked alongside the Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland or the 1950 loss to the United States, according to BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty. But the win did not cover cracks exposed regularly in this campaign.
“England were 15 minutes from World Cup humiliation until Kane's heroics; Tuchel faces Mexico with selection woes and Rice's injury.”
Tuchel is still searching for his best team. “If Tuchel does know his best team, he is hiding it well,” wrote McNulty. The right-back position has become a poisoned chalice, and the sight of Declan Rice ending the DR Congo win at right-back hinted at confusion. Rice, the glue that holds England together, begged to be substituted because he was in so much pain.
“He said: ‘I can do it for the team but I am in terrible pain,’” Tuchel revealed, as reported by The Sun. “When Declan tells you he is in terrible pain then you know he cannot take it anymore.” Rice has struggled with a hamstring issue since Christmas and was replaced by John Stones in injury time. Tuchel hopes the Arsenal midfielder will be fine for the Mexico clash, adding: “There is no injury, I think he will recover. It’s more of a nerve pain.”
Kane and Jude Bellingham have been England’s standout performers, contributing goals and world-class inspiration in Group L wins against Croatia and Panama. But as good as they are, there will come a day when they do not bail out under-performing team-mates.
Tuchel also has a historical score to settle. He watched from his home in Germany as a teenager when England were beaten by Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the 1986 quarter-final, where the ‘Hand of God’ goal broke Three Lions hearts. Now he vows to avenge that heartache at the same venue, the Azteca.
One solution may lie on the bench. The i newspaper’s Kevin Garside argues that Eberechi Eze can unlock England’s stuttering attack. “Eze does not wear a cape… yet he is the key that unlocks everything for a coach running out of road.”
England’s dull plodding in front of packed defences brought them to the point of extinction against DR Congo. With Mexico rarely losing at the Azteca, Tuchel must throw caution to the wind – or risk another national embarrassment.