Thomas Tuchel has revealed that assistant coach Anthony Barry was the mastermind behind one of the more surprising tactical decisions of England's dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over DR Congo in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

England trailed for the vast majority of the match before Harry Kane rescued them with a header in the 75th minute, then a thunderous right-footed finish into the roof of the net in the 86th to seal three points.

Barry's idea that changed the game

The turning point arrived in the 70th minute, when Tuchel withdrew right-back Djed Spence and introduced forward Eberechi Eze. The substitution prompted an unconventional reshuffle: Declan Rice was pushed back from midfield into the right-back position, just five minutes before Kane's equaliser.

Speaking to ITV after the final whistle, Tuchel was candid about where the idea originated. "Anthony Barry had a brilliant idea… to put Declan there," he said. "To have his quality from the side, get more difficult crosses in there. To give more support to Bukayo… a bit more connection."

Tuchel was quick to hand over the credit. "Full credit to my assistant coach," he told ITV, before also praising his squad's "commitment" in mounting a World Cup comeback — England's first since 1966.

Neville explains the tactical logic

ITV pundit Gary Neville backed the decision and explained why the move worked so effectively. The former England international noted that Rice had performed a similar role for Arsenal in a Premier League fixture against West Ham United just months earlier — a decision Neville had criticised at the time.

"I was actually crying out for it in the second half," Neville admitted. "What it did was make that little triangle, combination thrive."

The impact was immediate. A tight-angled cross from Rice found Anthony Gordon, who laid the ball back into the path of Kane for his first goal. The Three Lions had turned the game on its head, and an unorthodox piece of coaching had lit the fuse.