England survive large scare towards DR Congo to win 2-1 and arrange final 16 conflict with cohosts Mexico.
Revealed On 1 Jul 2026
Harry Kane rescued England from a seismic World Cup shock with two late targets to beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 in Atlanta and safe a spot within the final 16.
Aiming to finish a 60-year wait to win a significant event, Thomas Tuchel’s males escaped humilation and one among England’s worst ever World Cup exits on Wednesday because of their talismanic captain after Brian Cipenga’s early purpose gave DR Congo an early lead.
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However the Three Lions might want to enhance for the daunting job of dealing with cohosts Mexico on the Estadio Azteca within the final 16 on Sunday
Already England’s all-time high goalscorer within the competitors, Kane now has 13 World Cup targets and strikes onto 5 for the event to stay within the the star-studded battle for the Golden Boot.
Defeat ended DR Congo’s fairytale run on their return to the World Cup for the primary time in 52 years.
The Leopards had by no means even gained some extent or scored a purpose on the World Cup till a number of weeks in the past, however had one of many event favourites teetering on the point of elimination.
Tuchel made two modifications from victory over Panama as Declan Rice return in midfield, whereas Djed Spence got here in at right-back with Reece James and Jarell Quansah each dominated out via damage.
The German coach’s choice to not choose extra specialist right-back cowl in a 26-man squad will face extra scrutiny after DR Congo took the lead down that flank.
Spence was caught beneath Chancel Mbemba’s cross because the ball fell for Cipenga. The Almeria winger’s shot was low and arduous however Jordan Pickford ought to nonetheless have saved it out at his close to submit.
The overwhelming majority of the almost 70,000 crowd decked out in England crimson and white had been silenced, whereas Tuchel’s gamers had been visibly rattled.
Jude Bellingham was proven a yellow card for a lunge and was then concerned in a heated trade along with his coach through the mid-half hydration break.
The stoppage in play not less than allowed Tuchel the possibility to revive order.
Bellingham’s highly effective header from Rice’s cross lastly compelled DR Congo ‘keeper Lionel Mpasi into motion.
Moments later Marcus Rashford’s highly effective effort was blocked on the road by London-born Aaron Wan Bissaka after Noni Madueke’s jinking run opened up the DR Congo defence.
But it may have been even worse for England on the break.
Yoane Wissa’s three targets within the group stage fired his nation to the knockout phases of the World Cup for the primary time and the Newcastle striker had a golden probability to double the DR Congo lead however hit the surface of the submit from point-blank vary.
On the different finish, Kane was livid when he went down as he tried to spherical Mpasi however the referee refused to level to the spot.
Le Harve stopper Mpasi’s impressed afternoon continued as he flew to his proper to parry one other bullet header from Bellingham after which denied Kane from a nook with the final motion of the primary half.
After a vibrant begin to the second interval, England had been starting to expire of concepts till Tuchel unloaded his offensive weapons off the bench.
Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze had been despatched on by Tuchel looking for an equaliser.
And it was new Barcelona signing Gordon who supplied the cross as Kane lastly discovered a well beyond Mpasi with a downward header quarter-hour from time.
Gordon additionally acquired the help for the 86th minute winner, however Kane did the arduous work as he rifled a strong drive into the roof of the web for his 84th worldwide purpose.
Tuchel advised reporters that his aspect had “saved believing” to safe a deserved victory.
“Now we have to have that mindset. Whether it is getting arduous, don’t lose endurance, don’t lose perception,” he mentioned.
“It was unimaginable the form of saves [Mpasi] had, however full credit score to the mindset the [England] gamers confirmed.”
