With 16 minutes left on the clock in Atlanta, England were heading out of the World Cup. Brian Cipenga had just given the Democratic Republic of Congo a shock lead, and the co-hosts Mexico were already preparing for a last-16 tie without the Three Lions. Then Harry Kane did what he has done so often: he scored twice, first a header from an Anthony Gordon cross, then a rocket in the 86th minute, to turn defeat into a 2-1 victory and keep England's dream alive. It was the first time England had won a World Cup match after trailing since the 1966 final against West Germany.
At its simplest, England's round-of-32 win over DR Congo was a comeback built on the shoulders of their captain. Kane now has 13 World Cup goals, surpassing Pele, and 84 goals in 118 international appearances. But beneath the relief lies a serious structural problem that manager Thomas Tuchel must solve before the next match.
“Explains England's World Cup 2026 defensive struggles and Harry Kane's game-saving performance against DR Congo.”
England's defence has been unconvincing throughout the tournament. They went through qualifying without conceding a goal, but that record masked vulnerabilities. In the group stage, Ghana and Panama both created chances; DR Congo exposed the same weaknesses. The opening goal came when Jordan Pickford was beaten at his near post, and Djed Spence, the right-back, was caught out of position. Spence was one of three different players to occupy the right-back role during the game: Declan Rice moved there later, and Ezri Konsa finished the match in that position. As the Independent noted, England have now used five right-backs in the tournament, none of them natural specialists. The back four—Spence, Konsa, Marc Guehi, and Nico O'Reilly—looked unsettled, and the midfield left too much space in front of them. Joe Gomez and John Stones have also been used, but the lack of a settled defensive unit is a major concern.
This matters for UK readers because England's hopes of a first World Cup since 1966 rest on tightening that defence. The next test is formidable: co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a stadium where Mexico are unbeaten in their last 10 World Cup matches. Mexico finished top of their group and convincingly beat Ecuador in the round of 32. England's defensive stats are worrying: they have not kept a clean sheet against any of the better sides they have faced, including Senegal, Uruguay, Japan, Croatia, and now DR Congo. The midfield, with Elliot Anderson and Jude Bellingham, has been overrun at times, and only the brilliant form of Kane—described by BBC Sport as "carrying" the team—has kept them alive.
Q: How many World Cup goals has Harry Kane scored? Harry Kane has scored 13 World Cup goals, a record that surpasses Pele. His double against DR Congo took him to five goals in the 2026 tournament, and 84 goals in 118 appearances for England.
Q: Who will England face in the last 16, and when is the match? England will play Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The match is scheduled for Monday at 1am UK time (Sunday night in the US). Mexico are unbeaten in 10 World Cup games at that stadium, with 70 wins from 89 matches there.
Q: Why is England's right-back position a problem? England have used five different right-backs in the tournament, including natural midfielders like Declan Rice and centre-backs like Ezri Konsa. Djed Spence started against DR Congo but struggled, and the lack of a specialist has left the defence exposed. Thomas Tuchel has yet to find a consistent solution.
What happens next is clear: Tuchel has only a few days to shore up his defence before facing Mexico. The German manager, hired for his knockout expertise after winning the Champions League with Chelsea, will need to replicate that defensive solidity. England's attack, led by Kane, looks capable, but the fragility at the back threatens to undo all their progress. The World Cup final is on July 19, and for now, England are still in it—but they cannot rely on last-minute heroics every time.