Gabriel Zakuani
Former DR Congo defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, PA Media

On which players he's most proud of that he has recruited to play for DR Congo:

Out of the ones that I've been personally involved in would be Yoane Wissa because of the tournament he's had.

Axel Tuanzebe I'm really proud of as well because it took a long time to get over the line and he scored the goal to get us to the World Cup.

And Aaron Wan-Bissaka is another one because of the quality of player he is, he could've got an England call-up and he's at his peak but the fact he chose to play for DR Congo is massive for us.

Joe Hart
Former England goalkeeper on BBC One

Wissa has come to the World Cup with DR Congo and he feels that confidence. He is their main man, he wants to get on the ball. They are pinning all of their hopes on him and he looks like he is shining with that responsibility.

Image source, Getty Images

Some familiar faces in this DR Congo side with Newcastle's Yoane Wissa and West Ham's Aaron Wan-Bissaka starting this evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former Aston Villa midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

I think England have the quality to compete and make the final. If you look at the generation of players we have, maybe you can ask some questions about some players that were left out of the squad but we still have very good players.

When you look at the French, for me they are the most talented squad at this World Cup. But just because you are the most talented squad does not mean you are going to win the tournament.

When I look at Argentina I describe them as a pack wolves because there's a togetherness in that squad that I've not seen anywhere else. I would say the French are slowly starting to get the but there's a unity that Argentina have that is greater than any other team.

Micah Richards
Former England defender on BBC One

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I would have liked to have seen more against these teams in that low block.

When I watched them against Croatia in that second half, they were brave and they were taking risks. Against Panama, everything was too slow.

Gareth Southgate did so well, but Thomas Tuchel tactically was supposed to take us to another level.

I see a lot of Gareth Southgate in this team and that is fine at the moment. However, the reason they changed manager was for these types of games – knockout football.

Wayne Rooney
Former England striker on BBC One

Image source, Reuters

The competition doesn't start until now. Performance wise, it wasn't what we expected [from England], but it starts now and I am expecting a similar performance to the last one against Panama.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Thomas Tuchel's pre-match press conference was insightful in recognising the apparent change in system from DR Congo based on the team sheet.

DR Congo have almost always played in an aggressive 5-3-2 against top teams but look like they may play in a lower 4-5-1 like Ghana did.

He would've prepped England to find solutions against the 5-3-2 which might help explain the inclusion of Noni Madueke and the wide fullbacks but facing a new system throws a spanner into their preparation.

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel speaking to BBC Sport: "I think we have everything that is the most important, the commitment, togetherness, team spirit. Then we need to arrive in the right mindset, we are well prepared and we need to be ready to decide the match in the little moments that we get."

On Spence at right back: "Our central defenders stay, Nico played three out of four matches, Djed had minutes in all of the matches, so no problem. [Maudeke starting] says nothing, it just tells you that Bukayo Saka will finish the match for us today."

On what to be wary of tonight against Congo: "Counter-attacks, physicality. We have just seen the lineup and we need to figure it out because they normally play 5-3-2 defensively and in a 4-4-2 in attack. Now it looks like a completely new formation, like they are almost trying to copy Ghana in a 4-5-1, so it's another really deep block to try to drill into.

"We need to be careful in our structure when we attack to make sure that we don't expose ourselves. We will attack with five or six players but four or five players have to take care of the coverage and protect us against counter-attacks. We need to attack with freedom but it is important we are smart and take risks in the final third not too early to avoid easy ball losses. The whole package, let's see."

David Ornstein
The Athletic's football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Thomas Tuchel was appointed with the stated aim of winning the World Cup.

When has an England head coach ever come in with that stated intention?

They have not shied away from it. Even though the FA have extended his contract, meaning he will have the Euros as well in 2028. There is no getting away from this being the absolute focus.

When you hear Tuchel speak, the electrifying enthusiasm in his voice to be at this stage to come through the group phase is really noticeable.

Thomas Tuchel says we will see the best of his side as the tournament progresses and that is not necessarily yet.

He suggested that once they reach the level where "teams want to play us and not hold us down and refuse to play" then his side will perform at their best.

He added that that is perhaps not to tonight.

"I think this is not the moment now to shine now and to expect glamourous performances," he said.

"This is the moment to go through and get the job done."

Image source, Getty Images

This is your 30 minute warning!

How are you all watching this one? Got to make the most of the 5pm kick-off here as who knows whether England will get another.

Have you all rushed home from work or school? Are you stuck in traffic as everyone dashes to the pub?

Settle in, almost time.

Wayne Rooney
Former England striker on BBC One

Image source, Reuters

When you play against a low block, the ball speed, the tempo, everything you do with the ball is really important. If you're slow, it makes it easier. Normally, towards the end of the game you tire teams out, and you win the game late on.

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.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Reuters

When we talk about low blocks, people have a tendency to think any team that plays with five defenders is a low block.

The idea of a low block, mid block and a high block is sort of where the defensive line is positioned.

As much as DR Congo are an incredibly defensive and really difficult team to break down. They are actually surprisingly front footed for where they position that back five.

They position their line 30–40 yards away from the goal rather than being on the edge or inside their box. There is a willingness from the players of DR Congo to apply pressure to the player on the ball.

Gabriel Zakuani
Former DR Congo defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I'm really excited. It's sort of a free hit. It's a chance to showcase what we've got, that we're not just here to make up the numbers. We're here to be competitive.

Recruitment is not a word you associate with international football teams but with teams like DR Congo you have to talk about recruitment because were tended to fish in Africa and players that are born in DR Congo. But there's a loophole with players that are playing in Europe and they may have a parent that has DR Congo heritage and it's my job to tap into that and if they're at the level to help us go to the next level.

In my terms it's worked out where I've managed to convince players that have this Congolese heritage and take them to the next level which is the World Cup.

England

England midfielder Elliot Anderson, speaking to BBC Sport: "Obviously, we have to be at our highest level.

"We have done the main objective to get through the group. We need to perform, and we need to get through to the next round.

"It will be tough. We faced it [deep defensive teams] in tough games now. Teams defending deep in very organised structures. It is tough, and they pose a lot of threats.

"We have worked on it through the week, so hopefully, we can break them down.

"We have got Dec [Rice] back, which is a big help. A lot of control in there and a goal threat as well.

"We will be working, me, Dec and Jude [Bellingham] to gain the edge in midfield to give the attackers a chance."

On DR Congo: "They can counter-attack fast. We need to be defensively organised."

England have struggled against teams who play a low block. Actually it's not just England who have struggled with that.

But do DR Congo actually play a low block? And how can the Three Lions combat their style?

Read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

This tournament is not the only World Cup going on at the moment.

If you've not had enough of your knockout fix, England play South Africa in their Women's T20 World Cup semi-final on Thursday night at The Oval for the chance to play Australia in Sunday's final at Lord's.

You can follow the match across the BBC Sport website & app or listen to live commentary on Thursday from 18:30 BST.