With Harry Kane's last minute goals, England advanced to the 2026 World Cup, but their defensive weakness drew attention.
England beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in the 2026 World Cup and advanced from the Round of 32. England, which fell behind with DR Congo's goal in the first half of the match, saved the victory with Harry Kane's last minute goals. Kane, 87th and 90+4.
He brought 3 points to his team with the goals he scored in those minutes. England fell behind 1-0 with DR Congo's goal in the 18th minute of the match. The English team, led by Kane, increased their pressure in the second half, but could not score a goal for a long time.
As hopes faded in the final minutes, Kane's first goal came in the 87th minute. The second goal is 90+4. It was recorded in minutes, almost in the last seconds.
England's defense had serious problems throughout the match. The defense line had a difficult time against DR Congo's attacks and could not find relief after the early goal. While Kane's saving goals raised the morale of the team, they also created worrying moments for the technical team.
Harry Kane said in his post-match statement: 'This is a team victory. DR Congo was a tough opponent, but we did not give up. "We are a difficult team and a difficult team to deal with," he said.
He pointed out that England should display a more solid defense in the upcoming matches. This result also reveals England's fragility in the tournament structure. The difficulties experienced by the coach in establishing midfield balance caused the defense to constantly be penetrated and created serious gaps in DR Congo's counter-attacks.
Even though England has a high rate of ball possession, the problem of not being able to turn this statistic into goals, combined with the fact that no one other than Kane can step in in the final straight, sends a dangerous signal. If the midfield pressure is not increased, things will become much more difficult against physically strong opponents in the following rounds. From a historical perspective, victories resulting from last-minute goals often give teams a great morale boost, but they also run the risk of masking reality.
The fact that England once again depends on its fate at the feet of its striker shows the lack of a systematic game plan. The DR Congo match showed that the British will fight not only with talent, but also with a lack of discipline and tactical organization. Such "escape" wins are far from a sustainable strategy under increasing pressure in the knockout rounds.
England's next step will be the draw to determine the opponent they will face in the Round of 16. Solving the team's defensive issues will increase its chances of success in the later stages. Read at Hürriyet Spor
England's victory in the Round of 32 ensured they continued into the tournament, but the instability in the defensive line is worrying. While Kane's leadership and last-minute goals form the backbone of the team, serious problems may occur against tougher opponents. Improving performance is critical for England to maintain their claim at the World Cup.
Hürriyet Sporhurriyet.com.tr2 Jul, 8:30
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