England were just seven minutes from disaster. Brian Cipenga, unmarked at the back post, slid in to give DR Congo the lead in Atlanta – the result of Djed Spence covering a runner through the middle while the left flank evaporated. The Tottenham full-back, Micah Richards later said, “really struggled today.”
Declan Rice, deployed out of position at right-back, admitted after the match: “It’s not my best position.” Yet England crawled back. Harry Kane, twice, flipped the game. His brace – the second a late winner – spared the Three Lions a shock exit and prompted the captain to call Wednesday’s performance “our best game of the tournament” in terms of attacking play.
“Harry Kane's brace saves England from World Cup exit as Wayne Rooney warns defensive issues will cost them against Mexico.”
But the defensive frailties were impossible to ignore. Wayne Rooney, providing punditry for the BBC, did not hold back. “When England lose the ball they are so open,” he said. “Against a better team … we’re in big trouble if we don’t sort that out.”
The root of the problem, Rooney argued, was a squad selection mistake. When Tino Livramento left the World Cup camp prematurely through injury, Tuchel chose Trevoh Chalobah as his replacement. Rooney believes he should have dialled a retired Kyle Walker. “Kyle is still more than good enough … I would have been on the phone to him saying, ‘Listen we need you here. Can you come out and help us?’ That could really cost us. I’m worried on that.”
Rooney also pointed to a disconnect that has persisted across multiple games. “There’s no connection and there’s big gaps in the middle of the pitch. That’s not just in this game, it’s in previous games. He really needs to look at that otherwise we’ll go out.”
England now face Mexico in the round of 16 on Monday, July 6, at the Estadio Azteca – a fortress where the hosts have historically been near-invincible. “Give DR Congo credit, they caused England some problems,” Rooney added, “but against a better team … we’re in big trouble.”
Kane’s late rescue act has kept England’s World Cup dream alive for now. But the same structural issues that almost cost them against the African side remain. And Mexico, as Rooney’s warning underscores, will punish them if they are not fixed.