Harry Kane saves England against DR Congo

Harry Kane dragged England out of the muck with a second-half brace to secure a 2-1 victory over DR Congo, avoiding a premature and embarrassing exit from the World Cup. Brian Cipenga silenced the Atlanta crowd with an early goal that exposed the fragility of an English block that seemed paralyzed by fear of the surprise. However, the English captain responded with precision, first with a header to equalize and then with a final goal at the end to tip the score.

Thomas Tuchel saw how his team, which showed a slow and lacking image in the first half, reacted in time to avoid a humiliating premature elimination. The difference between a losing team and a winning one rested entirely on the execution ability of their star forward. The first-half performance revealed worrying cracks in Tuchel's system, unable to impose rhythm against a team that pressed with intelligence and bravery.