England's Right-Back Crisis Forces Tuchel Into a World Cup Knockout Gamble

England will enter the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup with their right-back position held together by improvisation. Jarell Quansah is likely to miss Wednesday's last-32 tie against the Democratic Republic of the Congo with an ankle injury, the third right-back-capable defender lost in quick succession.

That leaves versatile Tottenham defender Djed Spence as the probable starter. The one piece of good news for Thomas Tuchel is the return of Declan Rice, restoring control to a midfield that England will need against an organised, physical opponent.

A right-back crisis deepens and how England ran out of options

The problem did not arrive overnight. It built across the group stage until Tuchel was left with almost nothing on the right flank just as the tournament reached its decisive phase.

The full injury chronology

The first blow came when Tino Livramento left the camp this month with a calf injury. The second followed when Reece James, who started England's opening two Group L fixtures, tweaked a hamstring last week.

• James missed the win against Panama and is unavailable against the DRC.
• He is increasingly unlikely to be fit for a possible last-16 meeting with Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City.
• Quansah, who replaced James against Panama, twisted an ankle on his World Cup debut in the second half.

Tuchel was forced to replace Quansah with Spence during that match. The 23-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender is now a major doubt, and sources believe the last 32 may come too soon despite Tuchel's public optimism about his recovery.

Three down at the worst possible moment

This is the real story. Not a single ankle, but the loss of three right-back options inside a few weeks, leaving England to patch the position together at the exact point where defensive solidity decides tournaments.

England topped Group L with seven points, beating Ghana and Panama. Spence featured in all three group games, which gives Tuchel a credible fallback. It does not, however, disguise a depth problem that squad-building was supposed to prevent.

Spence, Stones and the makeshift solutions facing Tuchel

With James and Quansah expected to be unavailable, the simplest answer is to start Spence. Tuchel rates the Tottenham defender and trusts his adaptability, and the head coach used him across the entire group stage.

The reshuffle alternative

The other option is more disruptive. Tuchel could shift Ezri Konsa to right-back and start John Stones alongside Marc Guéhi in central defence.

That carries obvious risk. Stones played only five times for Manchester City in the second half of last season and has not appeared for England since the opening 4-2 win over Croatia.

Asked whether Stones would be ready to start against the DRC, Tuchel was unequivocal.

"Yeah, for sure. Why not? He was even in consideration to start [against Panama] but then it would have been the third change in the central defence in the third match, and I thought I'd stick with the pair because I saw them good against Ghana, and I saw them good against Panama."

A plan or a patch?

Both routes are compromises. Leaning on a versatile defender out of position, or a centre-back with five club appearances in half a season, is a calculated gamble rather than a settled plan.

Against an organised DR Congo side, England's makeshift right side is the most obvious place for an opponent to apply pressure. The backline that carried England through the group looks, for now, held together with tape.

The flip side as Rice returns and Bellingham buys in

If the defence is fragile, the attacking and midfield picture is the opposite. Declan Rice returns for the DRC tie, restoring the screening presence and tempo control that England missed.

Bellingham's redemption arc

The bigger upside is Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder did not start several of England's qualifying matches, and Tuchel warned before the tournament that he would have to fight for his place.

The response has been emphatic. Bellingham starred in the 2-0 win over Panama, scoring the opener, his second goal of the tournament, before assisting Harry Kane. It was his 51st cap, and he delivered when England needed steadying.

Tuchel was clear that Bellingham had fully embraced his approach.

"He was very positive from the first day in camp. He buys fully into all the things we demand as a team player, and then he brings his own individual quality to decide football games. That's what you see in World Cups now, and what you see from other teams and other big players. We have it in him and he's a key player. So well done until now. He needs to keep going."

Attack ready, defence rebuilt on the move

Bellingham played a slightly deeper role against Panama, with Morgan Rogers starting alongside his childhood friend for the third time under Tuchel. Marcus Rashford should retain his place on the left after a positive showing.

The contrast is stark. England's forward line and central midfield look knockout-ready, while the back four is being reconstructed week by week.

What happens next

England have returned to their base in Kansas City to prepare for the DRC. Tuchel refused to confirm whether he had settled on his strongest XI, but insisted adaptability would be the key.

"I know my starting 15. And from there I build and I see the energy on the training pitch and I see what the output is from match to match. Then we see what the opponent brings and how we need to react."

Win on Wednesday and a last-16 tie against Mexico or Ecuador in Mexico City awaits, with James unlikely to be available even then. The right-back question is not going away soon, which means Tuchel's solutions against the DRC are likely to define England's defensive shape deep into the knockouts.