England faltered against DR Congo as their possession grew in the second half, yet the Congolese build‑up stayed largely in check. The loss exposed gaps in Tuchel’s defensive shape that mirrored earlier group‑stage defeats to Ghana and Panama. The result forces a rethink of how the side defends when out of possession.

Tuchel favoured a wide unit triangle of full‑back, attacking midfielder and winger to pull opponents out of position. With injuries to full‑backs and the underwhelming form of the units, he pivoted to middle‑swinging attacks and reshuffled the wide rotation. The change finally clicked toward the game’s closing stages, freeing Bellingham.

In the first half, Rice failed to make natural runs, prompting Bellingham to drift left. Tuchel then moved Rice to right‑back and positioned Bellingham in a more natural left midfield role, creating chemistry that mirrored his Panama performances. The adjustment let England’s talent play more instinctively within the system.

Mexico remain unbeaten, keeping a clean sheet in the World Cup. To breach that wall, England must lean into the subtle relationships forged in recent tweaks, forcing opponents into moments they cannot read. The next test will decide whether the team can translate these lessons into decisive play.