Thomas Tuchel is challenging Jude Bellingham to sustain England’s attacking spark as the World Cup knockout stages begin. England progressed to the round of 32 as Group L winners after a 2-0 victory over Panama, a match where Bellingham scored once and created another goal before leaving the pitch in the 71st minute.
Next, England meet DR Congo in the round of 32, marking the first encounter between the nations at any level. The fixture also gives England a rare knockout tie against African opposition at a World Cup, adding another layer of interest to Tuchel’s plans for Bellingham and the rest of the squad.
Bellingham, aged 22 years and 363 days, set a new benchmark for England in the Panama match. The midfielder became the youngest England player
on record since 1966 to score and assist in the same World Cup fixture. Bellingham is only the fourth England player in total to reach that combined return at a World Cup tournament.
The Real Madrid player also delivered strong creative numbers against Panama. Bellingham fashioned four chances, including the assist for England’s second goal, despite leaving the match with 19 minutes left. That tally matched Bellingham’s previous best for England, which also stood at four key passes against Latvia in a World Cup qualifier in March 2025.
Tuchel stressed that this level of output is expected from Bellingham rather than a surprise. "I'm not sure if it's a reaction. But it is what we want from him, said Tuchel on Bellingham. 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. "
The head coach then linked Bellingham’s displays to the wider standard of the tournament. "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. He buys fully into all the things we demand of him as a team player. So well done until now. He needs to keep going. "
England’s broader record under Tuchel remains strong heading into the DR Congo tie. The Three Lions have played 17 matches with Tuchel in charge, losing only twice and drawing twice. That leaves 13 victories overall, though results against African opposition during this spell have been less consistent for England.
Half of England’s four non-wins under Tuchel came against African teams. England lost 3-1 to Senegal in June 2025, then drew 0-0 with Ghana on MD2 of this World Cup. Those outcomes sit in contrast with England’s perfect knockout record against African sides at previous World Cups, which remains a significant talking point.
England’s earlier World Cup meetings with African nations in knockout matches both ended in wins. England beat Cameroon 3-2 in the 1990 quarter-final after extra time in a dramatic match. More recently, England defeated Senegal 3-0 in the 2022 round of 16, a result which highlighted England’s attacking depth at that tournament.
Bringing extra attention to Bellingham’s display, England’s official account highlighted the performance during the tournament coverage.The message underlined how central Bellingham has become for England on the biggest stage.Brilliant Bellingham Watch the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup on BBC and ITV pic.twitter.com/C5IXWUtkuXEngland (@England) June 28, 2026
As England prepare for DR Congo, Tuchel’s side carry a strong overall record, a demanding coach, and a midfielder in Bellingham who is producing decisive numbers. The upcoming match will test whether Bellingham’s group-stage influence and England’s knockout form against African opponents can continue under the pressure of elimination football.
