Genuine superstar Kane produces his biggest England moment
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Harry Kane headed in with 15 minutes left then struck a stunning right-foot winner four minutes from time as England came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in a tense last-32 tie in Atlanta.
- Thomas Tuchel was facing an existential night before the comeback, with the article noting he "would surely have been unable to survive such embarrassment" had England lost, irrespective of his contract extension.
- Kane moved above Pelé to joint sixth on the all-time World Cup scorers list with 13 goals, becoming the first England player to score twice in a World Cup knockout match since Gary Lineker against Cameroon in 1990.
- Kane's five goals at this tournament put him alongside Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race, while 72 goals in 62 games for club and country this season (11 England, 61 Bayern Munich) drew comparisons to Messi from teammates.
- Anthony Gordon came off the bench to provide the assist for the winner and was involved in both goals, with teammate Jude Bellingham and Gordon himself offering glowing praise of Kane's consistency.
- DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi proved "a formidable barrier" with a series of outstanding saves before Kane finally beat him twice in the closing stages.
- England now face co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Monday 6 July, a venue at over 7,000ft altitude where Mexico have lost only two of their past 89 competitive home games.
Why it matters: This was less a routine knockout win than a survival moment for both Tuchel and England's tournament — the piece explicitly frames a defeat as potentially ending Tuchel's tenure regardless of his contract extension. Kane's brace not only booked a daunting last-16 date with co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca (Mexico unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches there), but also kept Tuchel in his role and pushed Kane onto the Golden Boot leaderboard with five goals.
