England have secured their place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup, with the round of 32 now on the horizon for Thomas Tuchel's squad. The Three Lions managed to clinch top spot in Group L, delivering a commanding 4-2 triumph over 2018 finalists Croatia before a stalemate against Ghana. Second half goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane then sealed a 2-0 win over Panama in what proved to be a lacklustre performance, yet sufficient to guarantee Tuchel's troops progression.
Round of 32 Opponent: DR Congo
Their prize is a last 32 encounter with DR Congo on Wednesday, marking the first time the two nations have ever faced each other. That fixture will get underway at 12pm in Atlanta, or 5pm UK time.
Potential Late-Night Kick-offs for Fans
Should England emerge victorious, however, supporters may find themselves setting alarms for the early hours to catch Tuchel's team in action once more, reports Wales Online. The victor of this round of 32 tie will go on to face the winner of the showdown between co-hosts Mexico and Ecuador, taking place in Mexico City on Tuesday evening (2am Wednesday UK time).
Should England overcome DR Congo, they'll then take on either Mexico or Ecuador in a round of 16 clash also scheduled for the Mexican capital on Sunday evening. That match is due to commence at 6pm in Mexico City - meaning for those back in the UK, kick-off will be at 1am on Monday morning. Consequently, England fans will need to remain awake until approximately 3am to catch the full match, with many facing a sleepless night before heading into work just hours afterwards.
Later Rounds Offer Better Timing
Should England progress to the later rounds of the tournament, supporters will be relieved to avoid further late-night kick-offs, with a possible quarter-final fixture scheduled for 10pm UK time on July 11.
Tuchel Vows Improvement
Naturally, Tuchel's squad must first overcome DR Congo, and the German boss has pledged his team will raise their standards following underwhelming performances against Ghana and Panama. "We know what we need to get better and we will get better," he said after the 2-0 win over Panama. "There's no problem in putting the work in and growing into a tournament like this with difficult opponents to overcome."
"It is important now we keep believing, keep focusing on what we can influence. Every game will be a different game. There are so many styles and cultures of football. The most important thing is to not be afraid, be brave, courageous and go step by step. And we are ready for that."
