England scraped past DR Congo 2-1 in their latest World Cup outing, but the performance raised more questions than it answered — particularly about the defensive structure Thomas Tuchel has assembled for this tournament.

Kane carries England again

When the team is not functioning at its peak, Harry Kane has shown time and again that he can conjure something out of nothing. His second goal against DR Congo was a case in point — running away from goal, he wrapped his foot around the ball and lashed it into the roof of the net, leaving the goalkeeper with absolutely no chance.

As a pure goalscorer, Kane ranks among the very best in the world. England's chances of lifting the trophy are closely tied to how well he performs throughout the competition.

The right side problem

England's defensive problems have been hard to miss. Tuchel would have wanted Reece James fit and operating at right-back, but that has not been possible. With Tino Livramento also picking up an injury, Tuchel's response was to bring in Trevoh Chalobah — a centre-back — rather than a natural right-back.

That decision left Jarrell Quansah operating in a position that many feel demands a more specialist option. The exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most debated calls of the squad selection, and each passing game makes it harder to justify. Alexander-Arnold's absence has exposed the right side of England's defence, and no amount of tactical tinkering has fully solved the problem.

If England go all the way, Tuchel will claim the squad was always right. But if the right flank continues to be a weak point, that argument will become increasingly difficult to sustain.

Mexico — a serious threat in difficult conditions

The focus now turns to Mexico, and this represents a considerable step up in difficulty. Playing at altitude will challenge England physically, and Mexico arrive in strong form after blowing Ecuador away in their previous fixture.

Julian Quinones has been outstanding in this tournament — he scored a superb goal against Ecuador and was the leading scorer in the Saudi League last season. He poses a direct threat down the left channel. Raul Jimenez has rediscovered his best form, and young forward Gilberto Mora has added another dimension to their attack.

There is also a genuine togetherness to this Mexico side, and home-crowd support will amplify the pressure on England considerably. England are still capable of winning that match, but it will be the sternest examination of Tuchel's squad to date.

France look unstoppable

Among the sides who have truly caught the eye, France stand apart. Michael Olise has been the standout performer of the tournament so far — even if Kylian Mbappe is collecting the goals. The combination between those two is devastating. Mbappe feeds off Olise's creativity almost every time he receives the ball, and France are, without question, the favourites to go all the way.

Premier League movement

Off the pitch, the Premier League managerial market has been busy. Oliver Glasner is set to take charge at Nottingham Forest, though it is a tough situation for Vitor Pereira, who did an excellent job there. Glasner is a fine replacement, even if many expected him to land at a larger club.

At Manchester City, Enzo Maresca's appointment has been confirmed. Pep Guardiola is likely to have had significant input into choosing his successor, and the expectation will be for City to mount a genuine title challenge against Arsenal. The arrival of Elliot Anderson suggests the spending will continue.

Alvaro Arbeloa faces an enormous task at Fulham following the outstanding work Marco Silva did in building the club. Silva came agonisingly close to securing European football, and Arbeloa will hope to pick up where he left off.

Tottenham making bold moves

Tottenham Hotspur have been among the most active clubs in the transfer window. Sandro Tonali is set to arrive for a reported £100 million — a substantial fee — while Mateus Fernandes has joined from West Ham United for £85 million. Defensively, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Andy Robertson have all been brought in.

A clinical centre-forward and a creative wide player remain the missing pieces. If Tottenham can add quality in those two areas, a push for the top four next season looks entirely plausible.