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  1. Postpublished at 14:36 BST

    Proof that we have a worldwide audience today, with messages from Japan, Italy, Ghana, Philippines and Florida, amongst others.

    Coming up, we have Dan in Atlanta.

    Sorry, that's Dan Roan, BBC sports editor, to give him his proper title...

  2. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:34 BST

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    1am kick-off here in Okinawa. C'mon England!

    Matt, Okinawa, Japan

  3. Pick Mainoo over Anderson against DR Congo - Rooneypublished at 14:33 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Former England captain Wayne Rooney says he would start Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo instead of Elliot Anderson in Wednesday's World Cup last-32 tie with DR Congo.

    Mainoo has not won a competitive cap for England since September 2024, having dropped out of the United team under former manager Ruben Amorim.

    However, under Michael Carrick the 21-year-old won his place back for United - then England - and played in his country's past four friendlies, though failed to make it off the bench in the group games.

    Anderson, who is close to joining Manchester City from Nottingham Forest for a club record £116m, started all three matches in Group L.

    Rooney, while discussing the midfield he would pick on The Wayne Rooney Show, said: "I'd go with Declan Rice sitting, and I'd go with Mainoo and Jude Bellingham.

    "Mainoo can give you a bit of both, but in tight areas, that's Mainoo's biggest strength - his feet in tight areas, and then he has got a little pass.

    "I think he's the only one who is capable of doing that in those tight areas."

    MainooImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 14:32 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    The actual team news is normally confirmed between one and two hours before kick-off, while BBC Sport's reporters will bring you the latest if news drops before that.

    So don't worry, we will keep you posted...

  5. get involved

    Get Involved - Pick your England XIpublished at 14:30 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of the page

    Dennis in Ghana has sent us his starting XI for this evening.

    He's gone for a 4-3-3 formation, with Djed Spence at right-back and Marcus Rashford on the left wing.

    Don't forget you can submit your starting XI using our selector here.

    Feel free to screenshot and send us your starting XI by clicking the 'Get Involved' button.

    Selected XI from Dennis in Ghana
  6. get involved

    Get Involved - A nervous wait...published at 14:29 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of the page

    Waiting in the delivery room for our second child. Chop, chop. We need to be out for the game!!

    Angus, Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, West London

  7. 'We want to make them proud' - Tuchel's message to young fanspublished at 14:28 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Reposting this from earlier...

    England's previous matches in this tournament have all kicked off by 9pm UK time, or later, when most young children will have been tucked up in bed.

    This evening's game may interrupt their dinner, but Thomas Tuchel has sent a direct message to England's younger fans, saying he wants to make them proud...

    Media caption,

    Tuchel's message to youngest fans watching tonight

  8. Bellingham's hometown rooting for Englandpublished at 14:25 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Katie Thompson
    BBC News

    I’m in Stourbridge, the hometown of Jude Bellingham and football fever is in the air at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School.

    Even more so as the England star visited this school three years ago for a kickabout with the kids.

    11-yr-old Rhydian, who met the no10, said it was “really cool” and he was “such a nice guy”.“He’s such an amazing player. There’s no one in the world like him.”

    Anouska, 10, added: “It was really cool because he showed us some of his skills and his celebration.“

    Both are buzzing that it’s a game they can finally watch before having to go to bed.

    Asked for their score predictions, the pair are certain that not only will England win, but Bellingham will be on the score sheet.

    gg
    ggImage source, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School
  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:23 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' at the top of the page

    If we're this worried about them [DR Congo], imagine how worried they are about us!

    Wade, Kent

    Reverse psychology, we like it!

  10. England 'shouldn't under-estimate' DR Congopublished at 14:21 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Chris Sutton
    Former England forward's World Cup predictions

    England v DR Congo flag graphic

    This isn't going to be an easy game for England.

    DR Congo had less than 30% possession in their first two games in Group K, but in one of them they got the 0-0 draw with Portugal that ultimately helped send them through.

    I covered DR Congo's win over Uzbekistan in their last group game and their coach, Sebastien Desabre, switched to a 4-4-2, with two attacking wingers. He is known as 'The Florist' because he helps young players to blossom, and everything has come up roses for him again.

    They will return to a back five for this tie and do what they did against Portugal, which is counter-attack.

    Yoane Wissa has not had a great season for Newcastle but he will be dangerous and England will have to look out for Sunderland's Noah Sadiki too.

    This is a team that Thomas Tuchel shouldn't under-estimate, but I still think England will get through.

    Sutton's prediction: 2-1

    AI's prediction: 3-1

  11. What can England fans expect from DR Congo?published at 14:19 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Let's take a little look at the opposition...

    Fifty-two years after a chastening World Cup debut, DR Congo have earned redemption by qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time.

    Back in 1974, when known as Zaire, their three group defeats included a 9-0 hammering by Yugoslavia.

    They had not been to a World Cup since, until now, but head coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed a team who were in crisis when he took over nearly four years ago.

    He led them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and has instilled discipline and tactical nous.

    A back five was trialled just before the World Cup and maintained for the first two games of the tournament, which included a draw with Portugal, before they switched to 4-4-2 to beat Uzbekistan.

    GettyImage source, Getty Images
  12. Fans start to take their seats in Atlantapublished at 14:17 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    I wonder if Jack Goodwin and his dad have made it into Atlanta Stadium yet?

    A handful of England fans are already getting their flags in place...

    ggImage source, PA Media
    ggImage source, PA Media
    GeettImage source, PA Media
  13. Man spends £40k house deposit on dad's World Cup dreampublished at 14:13 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    I love my dad dearly, but not this much...

    An England supporter has spent his £40,000 house deposit to take his father to watch the Three Lions "win the World Cup".

    Jack Goodwin, from Chichester, West Sussex, said he had booked hotels, flights and tickets to every match England could play until the final in New Jersey, USA, on 19 July.

    He has spent about £4,000 on a ticket to the final, describing the trip as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

    "We're going to see us bring the World Cup title home," the 34-year-old added.

    Speaking ahead of England's first knockout game against DR Congo, Jack said: "We're going to beat them 4-0."

    Read the full story here.

    DDImage source, PA Media
  14. Postpublished at 14:12 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Readers may be relieved to know that the actual football live team will be taking the reins at 15:00 BST, when the focus will switch 100% to the football.

    You will just have to switch pages to follow their build-up to the live matchday coverage of England v DR Congo.

    Before then, we will get in as much of your hopes, fears and plans for tonight's match as we can.

    How about a story about a man who has spent his £40,000 house deposit to make his dad's World Cup dream come true?

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:08 BST

    Click 'Get Involved' to have your say

    I'm with Japanese Deano [13:38 BST] - just landed in the Philippines and had a hot stone massage to relax and will now get a nap in before the midnight kick-off. 8am kick-off on Sunday [if England get through to play Mexico in the last 16]. The rest of the tournament will be 3 or 4am!

    James, Philippines

    OK, maybe this has morphed into a travel blog...

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:05 BST

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    Which bar? I'm in Cortina next week 😁

    Simon, Blackpool

    Focus people, this is not a travel blog!

  17. Atlanta Stadium gearing up for kick-offpublished at 14:03 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    GGImage source, Getty Images
    ggImage source, Getty Images
  18. get involved

    Get Involved - Your thoughts & plans before England v DR Congo?published at 14:01 BST

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    Been walking the Dolomites. Cut it short. Back in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Found a bar that’s showing the game, now just waiting…COME ON ENGLAND!

    Dave, Hinckley

    Well played sir. Let's hope England don't give themselves a mountain to climb Dave!

  19. Tuchel will stick to Southgate's penalty planpublished at 13:57 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    Sami Mokbel
    BBC Sport Senior football correspondent

    England manager Thomas Tuchel has revealed that his team will follow Gareth Southgate's penalty shootout blueprint at the World Cup.

    Prior to Southgate's appointment as England manager in 2016, the national team had a poor record in tournament shootouts - winning just one of seven.

    But under Southgate, England took their penalty preparations to a new level which resulted in the team winning three out of four shootouts.

    Tuchel has confirmed the team would continue with the processes established by Southgate.

    "The FA has a programme that has been in place for years and we follow the programme," Tuchel said.

    "We are prepared. We have a process, the players have a process."

    Tuchel said in the past he has been left unprepared for shootouts, admitting that in 2016 he "forgot" to prepare for the possibility when his Borussia Dortmund side faced Bayern Munich in the DFB Pokal final.

    Bayern won 4-3 on penalties, after the match had finished 0-0, with Tuchel having to select the order of his spot-kick takers in the short period after extra-time and before the shootout started.

    "A very painful experience and a big, big scar on me, because I felt really, really badly that I had let myself down, so it was the first time. It will never happen again," he said.

    • Read more about Southgate's penalty plan here.
    Here
  20. 'We are here to do the job' - Pickfordpublished at 13:54 BST

    England v DR Congo (Wed, 17:00 BST)

    England

    England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford wants to get the job done without extra time or penalties tonight, but says he and his team-mates will be ready for every eventuality:

    "We want to win the game in 90 minutes, but we will be ready as a team, as a group, as England to do what it takes to get the victory," said the Everton stopper, who famously helped Gareth Southgate's side claim a first ever World Cup win on penalties against Colombia in the first knockout round of the 2018 World Cup.

    "If it goes to penalties, extra time, we have got the ability, we have got the lads to come off the bench, our togetherness is a high level and that is what we are here to do.

    "We are here to do the job. We know Congo is a tough nation, we know how many teams in Africa have qualified for the next round of games.

    "They are a proud nation, and we have got to be ready for what they bring - but it is also about what we bring as a group, and we will be right after them."

    Jordan PickfordImage source, Getty Images