The ball had barely settled in the back of the net before a nation exhaled. Harry Kane, once again, had dragged England back from the brink of humiliation. Trailing 1-0 to DR Congo in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup in Atlanta, Kane scored twice in 11 minutes to secure a 2-1 win and avoid what would have been one of England's worst-ever tournament results.
This is not a new story. For the best part of a decade, England's hopes in major tournaments have been pinned on their captain and all-time leading scorer. The pattern is now so familiar it feels almost preordained: England struggle, often play poorly, and then Kane delivers. Against DR Congo, it was substitute Anthony Gordon who provided the assists for both goals, but the finishing, the composure, the sheer weight of expectation that Kane carries alone, remains the decisive factor.
“Why England's World Cup hopes rely on Harry Kane, after his rescue act against DR Congo.”
The history of England's reliance on Kane is long. At the 2018 World Cup, he won the Golden Boot. At Euro 2020, he scored crucial goals in the knockout stages. At the 2022 World Cup, he was again the focal point. But the 2026 tournament has exposed this dependency more starkly than ever. In their round of 32 match, England were "heading for one of their worst-ever results at the World Cup" after Brian Cipenga's seventh-minute opener. International media were in broad agreement. French newspaper L'Equipe said the match brought back memories of England's "grotesque" defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016, describing how "English fans felt a deep anxiety, which they had probably not felt for 10 years." Spanish outlet El Mundo noted that Kane is "the only one capable of maintaining the necessary composure to prevent Congo from making them look ridiculous." Germany's Die Welt called him "King Kane." Even Jurgen Klopp, watching for German TV, called it "the perfect World Cup match" — though he admitted England fans would disagree.
For UK readers, the real-world impact is emotional as well as tactical. England are through to the last 16, where they face Mexico in Mexico City, but the manner of their progress has been unconvincing. Thomas Tuchel's side have yet to string together a dominant performance. The worry is that, eventually, even Kane might not be enough. As Australian outlet Fox Sports put it, after watching in a London pub, Kane "had emerged as a Messiah in the nick of time, saving a nation from going into early mourning." That is the burden he carries, and the risk for England is that one off day — or one injury — could end their tournament.
Q: Why are England so reliant on Harry Kane? Kane is England's all-time leading scorer and has a proven track record in major tournaments. Against DR Congo, he again demonstrated his ability to score under pressure. The team's attacking play often revolves around him, and when he struggles, the whole team struggles. As El Mundo wrote, he is "the star player, the only one capable of maintaining the necessary composure."
Q: What did the international media say about England's performance against DR Congo? Most outlets focused on England's poor display, but also on Kane's brilliance. L'Equipe compared it to the Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland, Fox Sports called Kane a "Messiah," and Die Welt branded him "King Kane." Jurgen Klopp praised the match as "perfect" for its drama, but acknowledged England fans would not agree.
Q: What happens next for England in the World Cup? England face Mexico in the last 16 in Mexico City. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals. Thomas Tuchel has said he does not care about criticism and remains upbeat, but the team must improve if they are to go deep into the tournament. Kane's fitness and form will be crucial.
The next game against Mexico will be a true test. If England can produce a complete performance, the narrative might shift. But if they stumble again, they will likely need another rescue act from their captain. As Kane himself noted in a social media post after the DR Congo match, his children are his "biggest supporters." For now, they are far from alone.