England secured their place in the World Cup's Round of 16 with a dramatic 2-1 victory over DR Congo, thanks to a late brace from captain Harry Kane. The win sets up a match against co-hosts Mexico in the next stage.
DR Congo took an unexpected lead in the seventh minute when Brian Cipenga scored his first international goal past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Despite appeals for a penalty in the first half for a challenge on Kane, England struggled to find an equalizer.
Second-Half Comeback
The match shifted in the second half after substitutions were made. Anthony Gordon, who came on in the 61st minute, provided the assists for both of Kane's goals. Kane first headed in Gordon's cross with 15 minutes remaining, and then scored the winner with four minutes left in regulation time.
Kane's goals marked his 12th and 13th in World Cup history, surpassing Pele on the all-time list. The captain's performance was critical in rescuing England from what had been a challenging match.
Player Performances
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford received a rating of 4/10 for the opening goal, with critics noting he should have saved the shot. Defenders Ezri Konsa (4/10) and Marc Guehi (5/10) were cited for defensive lapses leading to the first goal. Djed Spence (5/10) was exposed defensively at times, while Nico O'Reilly (5/10) at left back showed little impactful contribution. Midfielder Elliot Anderson (7/10) was noted for his improved second-half performance and leadership. Declan Rice (6/10) had mixed contributions, with poor set-piece delivery but strong open-play passes, and was later moved to right back. Noni Madueke (5/10) was criticized for a lack of end product and defensive tracking.
Marcus Rashford (3/10) had a difficult match, marked by loose touches and poor defensive contribution before being substituted in the second half. Jude Bellingham (6/10) had chances in the first half but was not as influential in the second. Substitute Anthony Gordon (8/10) was highlighted as a game-changer with his two assists. Bukayo Saka (6/10) and Eberechi Eze (6/10), who also came off the bench, contributed to the team's improved second-half performance.
Manager Thomas Tuchel (7/10) was credited with the impactful substitutions that turned the game around, though the overall team performance still requires significant improvement ahead of the next round.
