World Cup Matchday 21 preview: Three Lions need to wake up quickly; how high is Team USA’s ceiling?

On July 2,, the World Cup Round of 32 continues, with the highly anticipated “Three Lions” taking the field today as they face DR Congo. In the subsequent match, Belgium will go head-to-head with Senegal.

England vs DR Congo: Time Is Running Out for the Three Lions to Wake Up

England advanced from the group stage with a record of two wins and one draw, which looks decent enough, but the process was far from easy. In their opening match against Croatia, after breaking the deadlock early through a penalty, England were pegged back twice before half-time and only settled the contest after the break. In the following two matches against Ghana and Panama, two teams that can hardly be described as top-tier, England’s advantage in possession was not converted into sustained pressure at all, and for the vast majority of the time they had no answer to the opposition’s low block, barely even creating many threatening moments.

The performance against Panama in the third round was particularly worrying. Even though the team had already qualified, the overall tempo was noticeably sluggish, and in the live standings at halftime they had briefly dropped to second in the group. Saka and Rogers were given starting opportunities, but their performances drew considerable criticism. In the end, it was still Bellingham’s individual quality that helped England solve the problem. Kane remained as reliable as ever, but the team’s lack of structure in positional attacks is still an issue, one that dates back to the Southgate era.

DR Congo have been one of the biggest surprises of this World Cup. Fifty-two years ago, when they made their first World Cup appearance as Zaire, they lost all three group-stage matches, failed to score a single goal, and conceded 14. This time, in a group that was by no means easy, they have achieved almost everything they could have hoped for: scoring a goal, earning a point, winning a match, and reaching the knockout stage. Now, they are set to embark on the first knockout-stage campaign in their nation's history.

During the group stage, DR Congo demonstrated a significant physical advantage in high-intensity duels, with their counterattacking efficiency in the final third proving particularly impressive. Against Portugal, they conceded first before battling back to equalize. In their decisive final-round match against Uzbekistan, they again fell behind early but scored three goals in the second half to complete a powerful comeback and successfully advance. In terms of overall style, this team does not rely on possession, but creates threats through rapid transitions after compressing their defensive line—an approach that is precisely the type England have been most reluctant to face in recent years.

Of course, on paper, England’s advantage remains very clear. Their potential vulnerability lies in controlling the tempo: once the match is drawn into a highly physical contest, England’s midfield progression will be weakened, and the covering burden on Rice will increase significantly. If the game becomes deadlocked, DR Congo’s physicality and direct running will continue to wear down the stability of England’s back line, while if England are forced to push their defensive line higher, they will be prone to exposing space in behind. For Tuchel, the match against Ghana has already taught him a lesson; now, in the knockout stage, he must provide a more stable and reliable solution.

Match Information

Match venue: Atlanta Stadium, USA

Referee: Mahdawi(Jordan)

Belgium vs Senegal: The Golden Generation's Last Dance — How Far Can They Go?

De Bruyne remains the team's undisputed core, but it has become difficult for his influence on matches to last the full 90 minutes, let alone withstand the additional demands of extra time and penalties that could come in the knockout rounds. The same issue of being unable to sustain his output also applies to Lukaku. Across the three group-stage matches, Lukaku's two relatively better performances both came after he came off the bench, while in the match against Iran, in which he started, his display was distinctly ordinary. Time waits for no one: Lukaku's physical intensity in duels and the frequency with which he drops deep have both clearly declined.

Mane remains the spiritual leader, but Senegal's main weapons have changed. Ndiaye, Ismaila Sarr, Jackson and others now provide highly explosive attacking options, and this direct, hard-running style is enough to cause problems for any opponent.

From a tactical perspective, the key battles in this match will be concentrated in midfield. Belgium rely on De Bruyne’s ability to dictate play, but Senegal’s pressing intensity is likely to make it difficult for him to distribute the ball comfortably. If Belgium cannot string together sustained passing moves in the final third, several of their forwards will have to drop deeper in order to get involved in the game. Conversely, once Senegal win the ball back, they are often capable of posing a threat through quick transitions.

This may be one of the most evenly matched ties in the round of 32. Belgium still have experience and technical quality, and look the stronger side on paper. But Senegal bring greater energy and directness, a contrast that is often magnified in the knockout stage.

Match Information

Match venue: United States · Seattle Stadium

Referee: Said Martinez (Honduras)

USA vs Bosnia: what's ceiling for the host?

In the Round of 32, none of the three host nations faces a particularly strong opponent, which has led many fans to question whether the World Cup’s expansion to 48 teams has also given FIFA an opportunity to manipulate the knockout-stage bracket. For the three hosts, however, this is an excellent chance to achieve strong results. Mexico and Canada have already advanced, and now it is the United States’ turn to take the stage.

The United States’ best finish in team history is the semifinals, but that dates back to the inaugural World Cup in 1930. In the nearly 100 years since, they have reached the quarterfinals only once, at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. At this World Cup, the United States have a chance to at least equal that achievement. Today, they will take the first step toward making history, with Bosnia and Herzegovina as their opponents.

The United States were generally steady in the group stage, having already secured top spot with one round to spare after two matches. In their final game against Turkey, the team made extensive rotations, and the eventual defeat did not change the fact that their core players were given ample rest. Pulisic remains the attacking focal point; his ability to break through down the flank and cut inside is the team's most important source of offense. However, the United States' problem lies in the midfield's lack of sustained playmaking ability, and their possession is not stable enough when facing high-intensity pressing. Once they move into a settled attacking phase, they can easily get bogged down in sideways passing and lack penetration.

From an overall matchup perspective, if the United States can maintain pressure through a high press, the game will move into the fast-paced environment they are familiar with; however, if Bosnia and Herzegovina succeed in dragging the match into a slower tempo and use set pieces and counterattacks to create threats, the two sides’ chances of winning will become much closer.

If the United States gets through smoothly, awaiting them in the round of 16 will be the winner of the earlier Belgium vs Senegal match, which would not be among the toughest opponents in the last 16. The timing and conditions are already in the United States’ favor; now it remains to be seen whether they can deliver on the human side.