Harry Kane came to England’s rescue like so many times before as his double against DR Congo saved the Three Lions from a humiliating exit in the World Cup last 32.
Huge underdogs DR Congo had surged into an early lead thanks to Brian Cipenga’s ninth-minute goal, as he beat Jordan Pickford at the near post, and England were frustrated thereafter – with Kane denied a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
But the skipper came to the rescue as he nodded home Anthony Gordon’s cross 15 minutes from time and then thundered in an 86th-minute winner to stave off a humiliating defeat and send them into the last 16.
A mammoth clash against co-hosts Mexico in the cauldron of the Estadio Azteca now awaits Thomas Tuchel’s side, who will need a much better performance than this to advance to the quarter-finals.
Follow all the reaction to England’s dramatic win over DR Congo below:
Predicting those ties
Morocco to beat Canada
France to beat Paraguay
Brazil to beat Norway
Mexico to beat England
Just the opinions of one man, apologies!
England’s right-back farce continues to leave Thomas Tuchel with one World Cup option
Thomas Tuchel’s prowess in knockout football helped persuade the FA to appoint him England manager. As his side stumbled then surged into the last 16 of the World Cup 2026, it is debateable if it was underlined against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tuchel may have been the catalyst for a comeback; with his substitutions, with his interventions at hydration breaks.
Yet the greatest evidence that Tuchel is the king of the knockouts was supplied by shutouts.
In 2021, his Chelsea won the Champions League when conceding just twice in their last seven games. If his England can add the greatest prize in international football, it may have to come another way.
World Cup last-16 ties already confirmed
Canada v Morocco – Saturday, 6pm BST
Paraguay v France – Saturday, 10pm BST
Brazil v Norway – Sunday, 9pm BST
Mexico v England – Monday, 1am BST
Bellingham sought magic moment, but Kane provided it
“If the equaliser came from a team move, the winning of the game was all about one man.
“It was maybe symbolic that Bellingham had tried to produce that moment just before. He went for goal when he should have squared for Bukayo Saka, but that only saw the ball come to Kane.
“Rather than turn in or just shoot, the captain calmly took it on to drive in a fulminating effort. It was emphatic. It was leadership.”
Kane has the personality to match his quality
More from Miguel:
“Yoane Wissa should have made it 2-0. England were lucky.
“It’s on such moments that games and occasions like this turn, at least over the course of a game.
“Tuchel still had to turn his team around. Lesser coaches might have been paralysed. Tuchel’s clear-headedness – even when he looks so energetic himself – helped swing this game.
“Eze was introduced to change the emphasis. And yet, even amid all of that, you still need moments. You still need character. You still need personality. You still need elite quality.
“Kane had all of that.”
Tuchel’s England job on the line until Kane’s 75th-minute goal?
More from Miguel:
“A manager specifically appointed for his knockout record came close to losing his very first one, in a game that for 68 minutes looked set to be a humiliation worse than Iceland, arguably the country’s worst ever.
“Thomas Tuchel, for his part, then showed exactly why his knockout record is so admired. He acted, with a series of proactive subs that did turn the game.”
Incredible Kane justifies Tuchel decision but England have huge questions to answer
He is central to hopes that seem to dwindle with every display that actually moves England closer to the trophy.
More from Tuchel on what ‘you don’t need a manager to tell you’
Tuchel: “Like I said, the whole tournament, the energy and team spirit is on the highest level, the commitment.
“I think everyone understands what part of the tournament we’re in at the moment and what it takes.
“Of course we want it easy and to have the first goal and whatever, but if you come from 1-0 down and need the last quarter of the match to be strong, these are also the experiences that give you genuine belief.
“You don’t need a manager to tell you, because you have genuine belief.”
