Pickford on penalty practice and prospects

England head into the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stages when they take on DR Congo in Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon (5pm BST).

The Three Lions squad touched down in Georgia on Tuesday evening ahead of the game, the day after fellow European nations Germany and Netherlands had exited the competition in penalty shoot-outs against Paraguay and Morocco respectively.

So when head coach Thomas Tuchel and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford sat down to speak to the media in Atlanta, it didn’t take long for the time-honoured question around England’s approach to penalties to come up.

Of course, this isn’t something new to Pickford, who was between the posts in 2018 when England registered their first World Cup penalty shoot-out win against Colombia in the Round of 16 in Russia.

“You've got to be prepared for anything, it’s knockout football now and anything can happen,” said the Everton man when asked for his thoughts on the prospect of more penalties.

“For us as England, we want to win in 90 minutes but if it takes 120 and if it takes penalties, then we're prepared. We've done all the training and we're ready for the game.”

Tuchel then spoke about the method of preparing a team in advance for the prospect of a penalty shoot-out, which is clearly a key part of competing in major international tournaments.

“I think it's very difficult to simulate the pressure, so we train what we can train,” he revealed.

“I heard Thierry Henry say that he can't remember his walk-up in his first penalty shootout for France. He can't even remember anything from the middle line to the penalty but I think you cannot train that.

“It comes down to execution, it comes down to repetitive action. It's a set piece, so of course we can train that.

“We have a programme in place and we follow this programme in detail. It's just an important and a very specific part of football that comes into place in knockout matches.

“So, we are prepared. We know the process and players know the process and we are prepared as much as you can prepare it.”

Both Pickford and Tuchel spoke about the previous day’s shoot-outs, which they were watching back at their World Cup base in Kansas City.

And Pickford in particular was a keen observer of how the shoot-outs progressed.

“If they're (players) missing pens, that's good for goalkeepers,” he added.

“I would say every keeper's different, everyone's got their own routines and their own preparations for it.

“You've seen last night with (Morocco ‘keeper) Bounou and his save, it's a different save and he put them off and that happens - that's football and everyone's different.

“Like the manager said, it's high pressure and it's about execution and repetition and that's what we're prepared for.”

Tuchel says his team are under no illusions around the test they will face against DR Congo.

The Three Lions arrived in Atlanta on Tuesday evening ahead of their first knockout game in the competition, which pits them against a DR Congo side who finished third in a group containing Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.

And having had chance to prepare for Wednesday’s match following their progress from the group stage, Tuchel knows what England are going to be up against.

“We expect a similar kind of game like we faced against Ghana and Panama and they’re a physical team, a quick team, a devoted team, very disciplined and well drilled," he said.

“They’re very dangerous in counterattacks, very direct in their approach and not shy to play long balls into the depths to make it a running game and a game of second balls.

“They’re a team that don't allow a lot of chances and they didn't allow a lot of goals against teams like Colombia and Portugal.

“So that's basically what waits for us - physicality, counter-attack, directness and they’ve already overachieved. I know from experience what it does to a team if you are already in the moment of overachieving and they have genuine belief in what they are doing. That makes them a difficult team to play against.

“We arrive as favourites and then they can play in the role of an underdog, which suits them very well of course and all this is on the table.

“I think it's just important to accept these things and then focus on what we can influence and be the best version of ourselves.

“We have the team spirit, we have the commitment, we have the quality to turn half chances into chances and to decide this match in maybe a very few key moments.

“We have the quality, we have the trust, we have the belief. But we respect our opponent and we accept the situation of knockout football, of course.”

Tuchel also revealed that both Reece James and Jarell Quansah will miss the game through injury but are on course to return should England progress through this round into the Round of 16.

“They're getting closer and closer,” he said.

“Jarell is a little bit ahead of Reece but the race was close even to make it into the squad this time.

“We need to make sure that we have more matches. That is the main focus and then they will be available very soon.”

With the match set to kick-off at noon in Atlanta, this game represents a better opportunity for some of the team's younger fans back home to watch and cheer on their heroes.

And Tuchel is hoping his team can put on a performance to inspire those who will be tuning in.

“We’d love to entertain them,” he said.

“We don't know what's coming and I don't want to ruin expectations, because of course not everyone wants to play exciting football and front-foot football.

“But it can also be entertaining if you feel the spirit and the energy of the team and for everyone who is allowed to watch tomorrow because they have to go to bed early normally, hopefully they feel the spirit and how much it means to this team.

“I see it every day, I feel it every day and hopefully we can transmit it through the TVs and then make them proud and happy.”