Harry Kane dragged England from the brink of World Cup elimination with two stoppage-time goals to beat DR Congo 2-1 and secure a last-16 date with Mexico at the Estadio Azteca. The Three Lions were on the ropes for most of the first half after Brian Cipenga’s 37th-minute strike put DR Congo ahead, exposing England’s shaky defensive structure under Thomas Tuchel. Midfield chaos and poor pressing allowed DR Congo to carve out clear chances, while England’s attack struggled to find rhythm against a compact low block.
The goal came from a set-piece mix-up, with Harry Maguire misreading the flight of the ball and leaving Cipenga unmarked inside the six-yard box. Tuchel reacted at half-time, introducing Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon to inject energy and width. The changes shifted the game: Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze grew into the contest, and England began to control possession.
Still, DR Congo nearly doubled their lead late in the second half when Chancel Mbemba forced Jordan Pickford into a sharp save, drilling a header against the crossbar from 12 yards out. The miss underscored England’s defensive fragility under pressure, with Kyle Walker and John Stones caught out by DR Congo’s direct approach. Kane’s introduction in the 75th minute proved the catalyst.
His first strike, a 90+1 header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross, leveled the score after a scramble in the box following a corner. Then, in the 90+7 minute, Kane slotted home from the penalty spot after replays confirmed a foul on Bellingham in the box. The drama capped a nervy evening where England’s defensive record—already a World Cup concern—looked alarmingly fragile.
The win extended England’s unbeaten run in World Cup knockout football to just one match since 2018, a statistic that will do little to ease concerns about their ability to handle high-pressure scenarios. England captain Harry Kane admitted post-match that the win was far from convincing. “We were poor in patches, especially early on.
” Tuchel, whose substitutions turned the tide, insisted his team showed resilience. “We had to adapt and we did. ” England’s defensive issues aren’t new, but the DR Congo game crystallized them.
The Three Lions conceded more shots in open play (14) than they managed themselves (12), a stat that highlights their struggles against organized, direct opponents. England’s high defensive line, often deployed to compress play, left acres of space behind Walker and Stones, which DR Congo exploited repeatedly. The backline’s inability to deal with long balls and second balls also played into DR Congo’s hands, with midfielders Rice and Kobbie Mainoo frequently caught out of position.
The late winner also underscored England’s reliance on individual brilliance in tight games. Kane’s two goals masked deeper problems: a lack of cutting edge in midfield and a forward line that rarely troubled the DR Congo goalkeeper. Ollie Watkins, introduced for the final 20 minutes, offered little threat, while Ivan Toney’s introduction didn’t change the game’s dynamics.
The substitutions, while impactful in sparking the comeback, also exposed England’s limited tactical flexibility beyond reactive changes. The tactical rigidity of England’s first-half setup laid bare the growing pains of Tuchel’s system integration. Without a natural creator in the starting eleven, the side relied too heavily on full-backs for width, leaving the central corridor congested and predictable.
Eze looked isolated, and the partnership between Rice and Mainoo lacked the defensive bite to stop counters or the passing range to bypass DR Congo’s press. Bellingham’s arrival changed the geometry of the attack, offering a roaming presence that dragged defenders out of position and created the pockets of space Kane eventually exploited. This suggests Tuchel’s preferred XI is still a work in progress, particularly in balancing defensive solidity with creative freedom in the engine room.
Furthermore, the set-piece battle served as a microcosm of England’s evening: a source of both salvation and scandal. While Cipenga’s goal exposed a lapse in zonal marking that Maguire will be criticized for, England’s eventual equalizer stemmed from the same chaotic delivery that undid them. It highlights a fine margin for error in knockout football where aerial dominance is no longer a given for this squad.
DR Congo’s physicality, particularly from Mbemba and the defense, rattled a backline that looked uncomfortable with the bruising nature of the contest. As England prepare for a Mexican side known for its physical commitment and aerial threat, this inability to impose a physical superiority until the dying embers suggests a soft underbelly that stronger opposition will target ruthlessly. What’s next: England now face a far sterner test in Mexico, a nation with a raucous home crowd and a team capable of punishing defensive lapses.
Tuchel must address England’s defensive frailties while maintaining the attacking spark that salvaged this result. The Azteca’s altitude and intensity will demand a more structured approach, with no room for the disjointed spells that nearly cost England against DR Congo. The last-16 tie could define Tuchel’s tenure if England fail to tighten their ship before kickoff. Read at Independent Sport
Why this matters
This wasn’t just a win—it was a stress test for England’s World Cup ambitions. The performance against DR Congo exposed the same defensive vulnerabilities that derailed past tournaments, while Kane’s clutch finishing and Tuchel’s tactical adjustments offered a glimmer of hope. With Mexico next, the margin for error shrinks to zero in a knockout cauldron. The result buys time, but the questions remain: Can England tighten up defensively? And can they cope with the pressure of a hostile Azteca crowd? The answers will shape England’s World Cup narrative long before the quarter-finals.
Frequently asked
How did England recover from 0-1 down against DR Congo?
Thomas Tuchel’s half-time substitutions—Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon—reshaped the game, shifting England from disjointed possession play to proactive pressure. Harry Kane’s introduction added the cutting edge, with two stoppage-time goals sealing the win.
Who scored for DR Congo against England?
Brian Cipenga opened the scoring for DR Congo in the 37th minute, exploiting England’s defensive disorganization before half-time.
What’s the next opponent for England in the World Cup?
England will face Mexico in the last-16 knockout stage at the Estadio Azteca, a venue known for its intense atmosphere and Mexico’s high-pressing style.
Was Harry Kane’s second goal a penalty?
Yes. Kane converted a 90+7 minute penalty after replays confirmed a foul on Jude Bellingham inside the DR Congo box.
How did Thomas Tuchel change England’s approach after halftime?
Tuchel introduced Bellingham and Gordon to inject energy and width, shifting England from a passive midfield to a more aggressive, transitional style that eventually unlocked DR Congo’s defense.
Why did England’s defensive record raise alarms against DR Congo?
England conceded more open-play shots (14) than they created (12), struggled with long balls, and left space behind their high line. Chancel Mbemba’s late header against the crossbar highlighted their fragility under pressure.
