Tuchel’s team selection was a mixture of tactical efforts, dealing with injuries and playing time management, as well as developing formulas for England’s progress.
One key area stands out where England is vulnerable, where elite opponents will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing Tuchel’s side.
And this is on defense.
“The area of the pitch where you need stability is your goalkeeper and back four,” former England captain Wayne Rooney told BBC Sport. “With four defenders we didn’t have that.”
England’s defensive weaknesses were highlighted ahead of the tournament, particularly the potential for injuries to players such as Newcastle’s Tino Livramento and Chelsea captain Reece James, who regularly struggled.
Livramento was ruled out before the World Cup began and while Tuchel expressed surprise at the hamstring injury James suffered against Croatia, few others were surprised given his history of similar problems.
This left Tuchel’s defensive decisions vulnerable, particularly at right-back, when James’s replacement Jarell Quansah was injured against Panama, leaving England’s resources even tighter.
James and Quansah will both miss the match against DR Congo, with Tuchel saying: “They are getting closer and closer. Jarell is a little ahead of Reece, but the race is close.”
Injuries leave Jed Spence the last choice at right-back, although Tuchel could also replace centre-back Ezri Konsa in that position, opening the possibility of a recall for John Stones.
Jordan Pickford is the mainstay in goalkeeping but the defense is turbulent with Tuchel starting alongside Stones and Konsa in the 4-2 win over Croatia. He then switched to Konsa and Marc Guei and Stones was eliminated.
Tuchel had to take into account the fact that Stones, 32, started just five Premier League games before leaving Manchester City at the end of last season, while James started just 20 games for Chelsea.
The German’s apparent fixation on the strategy of recruiting versatile full-backs who can play on both flanks, as well as central defenders who can fill in at full-back, has left England in a difficult situation.
If England meet Brazil and Vinicius Jr in a potential quarter-final in Miami, it will certainly be a job for the specialist. Tuchel must hope he doesn’t have to keep his fingers crossed while issuing such optimistic statements about James’ fitness.
Elsewhere, Tuchel must also decide whether Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka will play against DR Congo. He was given his first World Cup start against Panama, which lasted 63 minutes, while continuing to nurse an Achilles tendon problem.
Speaking to the media in Atlanta, Tuchel said: “We know that in moments like these we have to look for ways to win. We need to dig in and play at the highest level.”
He added: “We are the favourites. We are playing against our own expectations. We expect to go beyond the last 16, so why shouldn’t the public expect that?”
From now on, Tuchel must make every decision now. Like the England players, the head coach cannot afford to make mistakes.