England may have secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over DR Congo to book their place in the next stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but the celebrations inside the camp were reportedly overshadowed by an emergency meeting that could reshape the team’s attacking lineup moving forward.
According to reports from inside England’s training base, an internal meeting involving the Football Association leadership and head coach Thomas Tuchel lasted for more than an hour shortly after the final whistle.
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While much of the discussion centered on England’s upcoming Round of 16 clash, one player reportedly became the primary topic of conversation—Marcus Rashford.
Following the meeting, Tuchel is believed to have informed his coaching staff that Rashford will no longer be guaranteed a place in the starting lineup after a disappointing display against DR Congo.
Although England advanced, Tuchel reportedly felt the left wing failed to function as expected throughout the match.
Sources close to the team suggested the German manager was particularly frustrated by Rashford’s overall contribution without the ball.
Modern tournament football demands every attacking player contribute defensively, especially against physically strong opponents, and England’s coaching staff reportedly believed Rashford fell short in several key areas.
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Video analysis from the match allegedly highlighted repeated moments where Rashford failed to track back quickly after losing possession, leaving England’s left side exposed during DR Congo’s counterattacks.
Even more concerning for Tuchel was what insiders described as a lack of aggressive pressing.
England had spent the week preparing an organized high-press system designed to force DR Congo into mistakes deep inside their own half.
However, according to reports, Rashford was often slow to close down defenders, allowing the opposition extra time to build attacks.
Several sequences reportedly showed teammates initiating the press while Rashford remained too far from the action, creating gaps that DR Congo managed to exploit.
Offensively, the Manchester United forward also struggled to make an impact.
His dribbling rarely threatened defenders, several attacks broke down after misplaced touches, and England created very few dangerous opportunities from his side before halftime.
While no single mistake directly cost England the match, Tuchel reportedly concluded that the overall balance of the team simply improved after changes were made.
That improvement became impossible to ignore once Anthony Gordon entered the game.
The Newcastle United winger immediately injected pace, energy, and intensity into England’s attack.
Unlike Rashford, Gordon relentlessly pressed defenders, sprinted back to support his full-back, and constantly looked to stretch the DR Congo defensive line with intelligent movement.
His influence became decisive almost immediately.
Within minutes of entering the match, Gordon produced a perfectly weighted cross that found Harry Kane inside the penalty area for England’s equalizing goal.
Later in the match, Gordon again burst down the flank before delivering another precise ball into the box, allowing Kane to finish for what proved to be the winning goal.
Two assists.
Two decisive attacking moments.
And countless defensive recoveries that caught the attention of England’s coaching staff.
According to sources, Tuchel praised Gordon’s work rate during the post-match review, emphasizing that modern international football is won by players willing to contribute in every phase of the game.
The statistics reportedly reinforced what the coaching staff had already observed.
Gordon covered significantly more distance after coming on, completed more successful pressing actions, recovered possession multiple times, and directly contributed to both of Kane’s goals.
In contrast, Rashford’s attacking numbers remained modest, while his defensive contribution was reportedly among the lowest of England’s starting attackers.
Several senior players are also believed to have acknowledged Gordon’s impact during the internal review, recognizing how his energy changed the rhythm of England’s performance.
Tuchel has consistently insisted since taking charge that reputation alone will never determine selection.
Every position must be earned through performances.
That philosophy now appears to be shaping England’s lineup ahead of the knockout stages.
With Mexico waiting in the Round of 16, England expects an opponent capable of pressing aggressively and attacking with speed on the counter.
For that reason, Tuchel reportedly believes players who combine attacking quality with relentless defensive commitment will become increasingly valuable.
Anthony Gordon appears to fit that profile perfectly.
While Rashford remains one of England’s most talented attackers and could still play an important role later in the tournament, sources indicate he now faces an uphill battle to regain his place in the starting eleven.
Training sessions over the coming days are expected to determine the final lineup, but many inside the England camp reportedly believe Gordon has done enough to earn the opportunity from the opening whistle.
Harry Kane’s clinical finishing ultimately decided the match against DR Congo.
Yet behind those two goals was another story entirely.
One substitute changed the momentum.
One winger delivered two assists.
And one established star may have just watched his place in England’s strongest lineup disappear.
If Tuchel follows through with the decision discussed during the emergency meeting, England’s victory over DR Congo may ultimately be remembered not only as the night Harry Kane scored twice—but also as the match that launched Anthony Gordon into the starting XI while Marcus Rashford was forced to watch from the bench.
