Harry Kane scored a dramatic late double to rescue England and secure their place in the World Cup last 16 with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo. The captain's goals in the 75th and 86th minutes erased an early deficit and salvaged a performance that had been largely listless until the final quarter.
Brian Cipenga had given DR Congo a shock lead in the seventh minute, firing past Jordan Pickford at the near post. England struggled to find a response for much of the match, with Kane having a penalty appeal waved away before halftime.
However, the introduction of substitutes Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka injected much-needed impetus. Gordon provided the assists for both of Kane's goals, the first a header from a cross and the second a powerful finish.
Despite the late comeback, the performance drew criticism. Manager Thomas Tuchel was noted for not knowing his best starting XI, with the team appearing to lack inspiration and strategy. Player ratings reflected the team's struggles, with goalkeeper Pickford receiving a 4/10 for the opening goal, and Marcus Rashford earning a 3/10 for an ineffective hour on the pitch. Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa also received 4/10s, with Konsa at fault for several defensive lapses.
Kane, who now has 12 and 13 World Cup goals, was England's standout performer, earning a 9/10. His brace not only secured the win but also moved him past Pele in the all-time World Cup scoring list.
Substitutes Gordon, who provided two assists, received an 8/10, while Saka earned a 6/10. Eberechi Eze also came on for Djed Spence and was on the pitch for both goals. Declan Rice, who was later seen with ice on his hamstring, received a 6/10, with questions remaining about his midfield influence.
England will now face co-hosts Mexico in the next round, a match that will take place at the Azteca Stadium. The team will need to improve significantly from this performance to advance further in the tournament. 
