The group stages are over, and the serious stuff starts less than 24 hours after the final shots in that phoney war had been fired. Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane have not been alone in describing the World Cup as an event of two tournaments – and for all the entertainment of the first 72 matches, the real business now begins.
Harry Kane, England’s outright top-scorer in World Cup football with 11 goals, carries the burden of a nation. He came into this tournament on the back of a missed penalty in the 2022 quarter-final against France, and despite being imperious in club football since, he did not have a stellar Euro 2024. Didi Hamann’s criticism that the ‘jury was still out’ on Kane was ridiculously harsh, but the bottom line is that Thomas Tuchel needs Kane to deliver at the crucial time – and that means not just against DR Congo on Wednesday.
“Group stages end; Harry Kane and England face DR Congo in World Cup round of 32 as Tuchel demands delivery.”
Elsewhere in the round of 32, Lionel Messi – with six goals already, the all-time leading scorer at the World Cup – faces 40-year-old Cape Verde keeper Vozinha, a tie that looks like it belongs in the group stages but instead will light up the knockout rounds. It is almost impossible to think Messi will not add to his tally, but Cape Verde kept a clean sheet against Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, roared ‘I’m back’ after scoring two goals against Uzbekistan, and his Portugal side meet Luka Modric’s Croatia next Friday. Both Portugal and Croatia did not look overly formidable in their group-stage campaigns, but do not rule out either veteran taking their nation on a deep run.
Kylian Mbappe, a generational talent who did not deserve to be on the losing side in the 2022 final, leads a sensational French team into the knockout phase. With the Golden Boot race heating up and underdog fever still lingering, the final three weeks promise to compel – but for England, the question is whether Kane can finally silence his critics on the biggest stage.