England is preparing to face a resilient Democratic Republic of the Congo squad in a World Cup round of 32 knockout match in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel's side enters the fixture seeking a more fluent attacking performance after a recent goalless draw against Ghana.
DR Congo reaches their first-ever World Cup knockout match with a reputation for defensive stability under manager Sebastien Desabre.
The African nation previously held Portugal to a draw and defeated Uzbekistan to secure their historic progression, showcasing a disciplined low-block system that could frustrate the English attack.
Arsenal winger Noni Madueke warned that England cannot afford to underestimate their upcoming opponents given the high stakes of the tournament.
"I expect a difficult game for sure.
When you get to this stage of the World Cup, you can't take any opposition lightly," Madueke said.
He noted that breaking down compact defensive structures has become a widespread challenge for major footballing nations during this tournament.
"It's not just us.
I feel like every team has difficulties with the opposition setting up 11 players in 30 metres of space.
It's not easy to break down," Madueke added.
Madueke emphasized that England intends to refine their tactical execution to overcome the expected defensive approach from DR Congo.
"From our perspective, we have the same patterns and we'll look to try and implement them a little bit better than we did in the last game versus Ghana," he said.
With knockout football introducing the possibility of penalty shootouts, Madueke revealed that the squad has been actively practicing spot-kicks to ensure psychological readiness.
"A lot of it is psychological.
How you strike the ball, depending on your run-up and whether you stop or whether you wait for the keeper, or whether you just pick a corner and look to strike it as cleanly as possible," Madueke explained.
He also highlighted how competing with club teammate Bukayo Saka for a starting spot serves as a powerful motivator for personal improvement.
"I feel like you always have to be at the highest level because you know you have a top player waiting and biting at your heels to try and get in the team," Madueke said.
Tactical adjustments are expected for England, with Djed Spence potentially starting at right-back due to injuries affecting Reece James and Jarell Quansah.
Meanwhile, DR Congo relies heavily on Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa, who has scored three goals in the tournament so far.
