Rice right-back worry after DR Congo win

England's Declan Rice spent part of the DR Congo match at right back, and now Paul Merson is questioning whether that experiment should continue against Mexico (1). Rice impressed in brief cameos overlapping with Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka, but Merson warned that Mexico's more isolated one-on-one wingers could expose him. "He'll do a job, of course he will, he's Declan Rice, a brilliant professional and a brilliant player but I don't know," Merson said (1). Thomas Tuchel has Djed Spence, Reece James, and Jarrel Quansah as genuine right-back options for the next round.

Fan reactions

The Round of 32 exit hit hard, but Congolese fans are not alone in the upset cycle. A historic seven CAF teams have now been eliminated at this stage, the most from any single confederation in a knockout round in World Cup history. The mood online mixes disappointment with a grim sense of shared fate across the continent. See the full breakdown.