Harry Kane scored two late goals to rescue England from a disastrous World Cup exit, turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 victory over DR Congo in Atlanta. The captain's intervention saved Thomas Tuchel's job and prevented what would have been one of England's worst tournament defeats.
England's first-half struggles
England were dreadful in the first half, looking unbalanced, confused, and unhappy. Players clanged the ball about like men punting an empty paint pot along a motorway verge. The first hydration break was a bizarre moment in English football history, with the stadium PA blaring 'Hey Baby' as Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders writhed on the screen. Tuchel called for calm, but nobody was calm.
DR Congo took the lead after just six minutes through Brian Cipenga, who shot low inside Jordan Pickford's near post. The goal came from defensive disorganization, with Djed Spence following a run and leaving unchecked space behind him. England lacked a career defensive midfielder to track such runs with genuine mania.
Second-half fightback
England created chances in the second half, drawing saves from Lionel Mpasi, but remained 1-0 down heading into the final hydration break. The stadium played 'Country Roads' as Tuchel again fired instructions at his players, machine-gunning his semicircle of bowed heads with ideas and restructurings. England had a front five with only Elliot Anderson behind and Declan Rice at right-back.
Kane equalized with a header from Anthony Gordon's cross, powerfully beating Mpasi's flailing hand. Eleven minutes later, he scored the winner, twisting onto his right foot and blazing the ball under the bar. The net billowed as England's bench emptied onto the pitch.
Kane's legacy and Tuchel's reprieve
Kane played in the 2016 Iceland defeat, the deep horror of Nice. Ten years on, he took England from 1-0 down to 2-1 up, saving another day. He now has five goals at this World Cup and 84 for England en route to the inevitable hundred. His strike told a story of will and sweetness after 85 minutes of frustration. Tuchel, who faced talk of looking beyond Kane 18 months ago, saw his job and reputation saved.
England will play Mexico in Mexico City in the last 16. They remain a team of loose connections, exposed by DR Congo's tactical discipline. Jude Bellingham ran around a lot, leaving an extra man in midfield. Pickford pumped his arms like Jerry Lee Lewis, failing to calm anyone. But they showed spirit to turn the game around, and above all they have Kane—a temporary fix for much that is wrong, but on days like this, a one-man national team.
