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England will head to Atlanta with problems in central defence, right-backs dropping like flies, weary legs in midfield and hope that everything will turn out fine if the Harry and Jude show continues to thrill. For Thomas Tuchel, it is “a moment to keep believe and pushing”.

Did England convince while securing top spot in Group L by beating Panama 2-0 in New Jersey? Not at all, but for a team looking to keep spirits high all that matters for now is they have a winnable last-32 tie against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Wednesday and will be a threat against anyone if Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane continue to produce.

Tuchel is too smart not to know there is plenty of room for improvement. Panama exited the World Cup with no goals in three games but they made chances against England. The defence is shaky and will be punished by sharper attacks. Relief at swerving a tie against Senegal should be tempered. The DRC began their campaign by holding Portugal, have the Sunderland dynamo Noah Sadiki in midfield and will fancy Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa to profit if England fail to tighten up.

The biggest issue is in the cursed right-back position. Tino Livramento has flown home, the hamstrung Reece James is in a race to be fit for the last 16 – should England get there – and Jarell Quansah rolled an ankle against Panama. Quansah was moving freely when he left the stadium on Saturday evening but is a doubt to face the DRC, leaving Tuchel to ponder whether another defensive rethink is required.

Yet those concerns are countered by the sense of Bellingham’s and Kane’s burgeoning double act giving England a chance to score four if the opposition score three. Their partnership failed to take off at Euro 2024 but it is coming together in the US. They are no longer operating in each other’s space. Bellingham has worked out how to drive on when Kane drops off and the pair took another step in the right direction against Panama, combining for a goal from open play for the first time since September 2023.

It arrived five minutes after Bellingham had given England the lead. As the move progressed the 22-year-old had a higher starting position than Kane. Marcus Rashford chipped a ball down the left. Bellingham surged, checked inside and crossed for Kane, by now in the area and perfectly placed to head home for 2-0.

It was devastating from the two world-class attackers at Tuchel’s disposal. The debate over Bellingham’s place is over. The next question is whether the attack is too reliant on the Real Madrid midfielder and Kane. They have scored five of England’s six goals and the contributions from Tuchel’s other forwards have been underwhelming.

Does it matter? There are stars in every team. Brazil have leant on Vinícius Júnior and Matheus Cunha. Argentina are yet to shed their Messidependencia. Spain are more versatile but will look to Lamine Yamal. Ultimately people are thinking about France when it comes to variety in attack. Kylian Mbappé was devastating in the first two games but Ousmane Dembélé followed up with a first-half hat-trick against Norway. Michael Olise has also sparkled, and there have been bewitching moments from Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.

It is pointless urging Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze to hit those standards, though. Just be more like one of the greatest players in World Cup history, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, two Paris Saint-Germain tyros and a Bayern Munich star. You might as well tell Andy Murray he just should have been more like Roger Federer.

Even so Tuchel can ask for more on his own terms. Rogers was ineffective as the No 10 against Panama and Tuchel does not seem to trust Eze. Gordon has struggled when deprived of space on the left. Saka has two assists – he swung in the corner for Bellingham’s volleyed finish on Saturday – but is still building up sharpness.

Rashford offers more encouragement. He scored after coming on against Croatia but does not regard himself as a supersub. He came in for Gordon against Panama and was lively. The final ball has to be better, though. Rashford has to be more clinical against the DRC.

In Tuchel’s world, though, it is not about individual glory. His focus is the collective. “Sometimes, it’s just a run from someone else to open the space up for Jude so that he can shine,” Tuchel said. “They work in units. If you see the chance in the first half where Jude does the run into the box, Nico O’Reilly does this run to just take an opponent out.”

Tuchel hated the “freestyle” attacking approach England adopted during the first half of their friendly against New Zealand this month. “No one knows what the other one is thinking,” he said. “We want to play more in patterns and more in units. It’s not only about patterns, it’s about the quality in the pattern.”

Tuchel is not going to engage in discussion over whether he should have found room for Cole Palmer. He is simply pushing the players at his disposal. It was disappointing that nobody stepped up when Ghana neutralised Bellingham and Kane. Thomas Partey marked Kane out of the game, allowing the striker only 19 touches. Bellingham grew irritable. He swapped only three passes with Kane during the draw with Ghana. In that scenario it is surely up to the wide players to offer more.

“We want these guys in a key moment to show up,” Tuchel said. “Nico almost did it against Ghana. Harry did it. Jude did it. I am sure Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Noni, Bukayo will do it when the time is there.”

Rashford is offering flashes of class. But it is about following through on the promise. Kane laboured during the first half against Panama, managing only one touch in the area. When it came to the crunch, though, Bellingham and Kane were decisive. They are the reason for England to feel optimistic.