Jarell Quansah has got the nod at right-back as England prepare to face Mexico in a huge World Cup last-16 clash tonight.
The Three Lions had to fight back from going a goal down early to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in Wednesday’s dramatic round-of-32 tie in Atlanta, teeing up a showdown with the co-hosts at their high-altitude Mexico City fortress, the Estadio Azteca.
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England started with Djed Spence at right-back against DR Congo with Reece James and Quansah both injured, with Declan Rice also having a stint there late on after Tuchel sent on Arsenal team-mate Eberechi Eze in midfield while chasing the game.
Chelsea captain James also missed the final Group L fixture against Panama with a hamstring injury, a game in which replacement Quansah limped off with an ankle problem.
Quansah trained with the rest of the England squad in Mexico City on Saturday and starts in the round of 16, with Spence and James on the bench.
Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford were both disappointing in starting wide roles against DR Congo, with substitutes Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon making an impact off the bench. Gordon assisted both of Harry Kane’s late goals.
Saka and Gordon now start against Mexico, with Jude Bellingham at No10 and captain Kane leading the line as usual after his latest heroics that saw him move past the iconic Pele on the list of all-time top World Cup finals goalscorers.
Jordan Pickford will remain in goal though will look to improve after being beaten too easily at his near post for Brian Cipenga’s early goal for DR Congo, with Nico O’Reilly remaining at left-back and Rice resuming his midfield partnership with Elliot Anderson.
Confirmed team news
England XI: Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Gordon
Subs: Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Chalobah, Burn, James, Spence, Henderson, Mainoo, Rogers, Eze, Rashford, Watkins, Madueke, Toney
Mexico XI: Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo, Lira, Romo, Mora, Jimenez, Quinones, Alvarado
Subs: Acevedo, Ochoa, Alvarez, Reyes, M. Chavez, Fidalgo, Pineda, Vargas, L. Chavez, Gutierrez, Vega, Gimenez, Gonzalez, Huerta, Martinez
Time and date: 2am BST on Monday July 6, 2026
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
How to watch: BBC One
