For 74 minutes, England were staring at elimination. Then Harry Kane did what he has done all tournament: he dragged his team back from the dead. The captain scored twice in the final quarter-hour to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory over DR Congo, keeping England’s World Cup dream alive and setting up a last-16 clash with co-hosts Mexico.
It had begun disastrously. Brian Cipenga beat Jordan Pickford at his near post in the opening minutes, a goal that exposed the defensive frailties that have plagued Thomas Tuchel’s side all tournament. Pickford, rated 4 by the Mirror and 5 by the BBC, endured “a nightmare start”. The back four looked vulnerable throughout, with three different players – Djed Spence, Declan Rice, and Ezri Konsa – deployed at right-back. As the Independent noted, England have now used five right-backs in the tournament. The defence was so porous that Yoane Wissa rattled the post just before half-time; had that gone in, there may have been no way back.
“Harry Kane scores twice in final 15 minutes to rescue England from 1-0 down against DR Congo.”
But Tuchel’s substitutions and a timely hydration break steadied England. Kane, who had earlier been denied a controversial penalty after contact with keeper Lionel Mpasi, finally levelled with 15 minutes left, heading home Anthony Gordon’s cross. Then, in the 86th minute, he lashed in a stunning second – his 13th World Cup goal, surpassing Pelé. “England are being carried by their talismanic striker at the moment,” wrote BBC Sport’s Alex Howell. The Mirror’s John Cross called him “Captain Marvel”.
After the final whistle, players and fans joined in a rendition of Oasis’s Wonderwall, a song that has become the unofficial anthem of England’s campaign. Liam Gallagher tweeted: “Cmon England cmon Wonderwall.”
Now comes the ultimate test: Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Monday at 1am. The co-hosts are unbeaten in 10 World Cup games at that fortress. England, who have not kept a clean sheet against a top side, will need more than Kane’s heroics to survive.