The England national team faces the Congo (7:00 p.m.) in the Round of 32 of this year’s World Cup, and for now, the most logical assumption is that the “Three Lions” are the clear favorites.

Not even the setbacks suffered by the Germans and the Dutch can unsettle the “Three Lions,” as their opponent is of significantly lower quality than the Paraguayans and, of course, the Moroccans. However, Thomas Tuchel has made it clear to everyone that, beyond Kane and Bellingham, the rest of the national team players must finally step up and play well.

Congo is in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in its history, having been eliminated in the group stage at the 1974 World Cup (then as Zaire). Sébastien Desambre’s team finished as the best of the third-place teams in this year’s groups with 4 points and a positive goal difference.

Facing the Congolese, England takes the field—a team that has its own issues and injuries—but Tuchel has 10 wins and one draw in 11 non-friendly matches as manager of the British national team.

James and Quansah did not train on Tuesday either, so Spence will take the spot on the right side of the defense, while it’s possible we’ll see Saka start. As for the Congo, there are no injury concerns, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll opt for a 5-3-2 formation, as they did against Portugal, or a 4-4-2, as they did against Uzbekistan.

Possible starting lineups:

England: Pickford, Spence, Konsa, Ghehi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Saka, Bellingham, Rashford, Kane

Congo: Enzao, Wan Bisaka, Tuansebe, Embe, Kapuadi, Masuaku, Mutusami, Santiki, Kayembe, Wissa, Bakambu

*photo source: AP