England Weigh Declan Rice Right-Back Option After DR Congo Scare

What happened:

Watch the highlights:

England are into the last 16 of the World Cup, but Sky Sports’ analysis focuses less on the relief of progress and more on the warning signs from the round of 32. The report says England flirted with disaster against DR Congo before advancing, and it highlights Declan Rice as a possible solution to Thomas Tuchel’s right-back issue after his cameo in that role.

Why it matters:

This is exactly the kind of tactical detail that can decide a knockout run. England’s broader tournament position is healthy because they are still alive. The concern is that a team with title ambitions cannot keep relying on recovery moments if structural problems are visible. Right-back is now presented as one of Tuchel’s live decisions, and Rice’s versatility has moved from theoretical squad depth to a practical tournament option.

Tournament impact:

The source makes clear that nobody will remember the DR Congo scare if England go on to win the trophy. That is true of many champion runs: messy early knockout matches are often rewritten as resilience once the medals arrive. But Tuchel does not get to wait for that retrospective. He has to decide whether the right-back issue is best solved by a specialist, a system tweak, or by asking Rice to cover the space.

Using Rice there would carry trade-offs. The confirmed fact is only that his cameo has made him part of the discussion; the implications are tactical. Moving him deeper or wider could help England stabilize one flank, but it may also change what they lose in midfield control, pressing coverage, or progression through the center. In knockout football, solving one problem can create another.

What to watch:

The next team sheet will reveal whether Rice’s cameo was emergency management or a real experiment. If Tuchel repeats it, even briefly, it suggests England are still searching for balance. If he avoids it, then the cameo may have been a one-off response to match conditions rather than a new plan.

Confidence:

Confirmed by the source: England beat DR Congo to reach the World Cup last 16, the performance included enough jeopardy for Sky Sports to describe it as flirting with disaster, and Rice’s right-back cameo is being discussed as a possible answer to Tuchel’s issue. Still needing follow-up: England’s next opponent-specific plan, the starting right-back choice, and whether Rice is seriously considered there from kickoff.