Tuchel urges England not to have overly high expectations and to approach the World Cup with the right mindset.

England's "Three Lions" will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Manager Tuchel said the team must have the right mindset about what other teams have experienced in this World Cup, and at the same time avoid being too arrogant or having too high expectations.

With goals from Bellingham and Kane, England defeated Panama 2-0 in the third round of the group stage, successfully advancing to the round of 32 as group L winners.

It is worth noting that Germany and the Netherlands, who were considered favorites in this tournament, were both eliminated in the round of 32 after playing to penalties.

England manager Thomas Tuchel commented, "That's the nature of the knockout stage. The Netherlands vs. Morocco match would have been perfectly fitting in the quarterfinals or even the semifinals, and Brazil vs. Japan was also at the level of any major tournament's quarterfinals. What I've seen in this World Cup is that Canada snatched a last-minute victory from South Africa, Morocco equalized in stoppage time and eventually forced the game into extra time, and Germany also went all the way to penalties."

"I think this can actually help us calm down. In a sense, these matches are all very close, and the outcome often depends on the details. This also reminds us not to have too high expectations and to have the right mindset for everything that has happened in this World Cup."

Tuchel pointed out, "All the teams trained very well, their defensive organization was at a very high level, and their preparations were very thorough. It's not easy for any team to break through the opponent's defense, especially when they are the favorites and their opponents are playing without any pressure. For me, these games have helped us stay calm, accept reality, and play our best as much as possible."

"Our opponents will be playing as underrated players, and they're often the easier ones. But we accept that and we know how to handle it. Nothing will change for us because of that. We'll approach the game with humility, focus on ourselves, and have the right mindset."

In addition, Tuchel said, "Regardless of FIFA rankings or how the game should be played, what really matters is what the game itself demands, and we must provide the corresponding answers during the game."

"To achieve this, we need to maintain a free mindset, the right competitive thinking, and remain calm, while being prepared to deliver our best performance. I believe we are ready."

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