Harry Kane came to England’s rescue with two brilliant goals as the Three Lions survived a major World Cup scare against DR Congo this afternoon.
It looked as though Thomas Tuchel’s controversial squad selection was set to backfire in spectacular fashion when they fell behind to Brian Cipenga’s early goal and laboured to find an equaliser, until Kane struck in the 75th minute.
And the Bayern Munich striker, captaining England for a record-equalling 90th time, struck again with four minutes to go to send his side through to a round of 16 meeting with Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning.
It was the first time England had won a World Cup match after conceding the first goal since the 1966 final against West Germany.
They have not reached the final since and, on this evidence, that wait is set to go on.
Yes, England bossed possession and yes, DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced an inspired performance but the lack of quality at both ends of the field was alarming.
DR Congo’s defence was made up of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who suffered relegation from the Premier League with West Ham last season, Axel Tuanzebe, who suffered relegation from the Premier League with Burnley last season, Chancel Muemba, who suffered relegation from the Premier League with Newcastle in 2016, and Arthur Masuaka, deemed not good enough by Sunderland.
To a man, they were superb and, along with Mpasi, kept England at bay until Kane’s late intervention.
Woeful England slow of the blocks
England were an absolute shambles in the first 25 minutes with a lack of cohesion throughout the team. DR Congo were the better side, particularly in midfield and it was no surprise when they took the lead after seven minutes.
A neat passage of play created space for Mbemba to stride forward and play a crossfield ball that picked out Cipenga. There was no England player within 10 yards of the Almeria winger and he steadied himself before firing inside the near post of Jordan Pickford, who should’ve done better.
If that was a wake-up call for England, it was not heeded as they continued to look bereft of any kind of gameplan. Wingers Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford were struggling to impose themselves and too often took the easy way out by cutting inside and playing the ball backwards.
England’s frustration was summed up by Jude Bellingham’s crunching challenge on Nathanael Mbuku that earned him a yellow card.
The oft-criticised hydration break came at the perfect time for England, enabling Tuchel to get into his players and their improvement was immediate as Mpasi was finally tested.
His first save was to push away Bellingham’s header from a Declan Rice cross with his left hand.
Mpasi was also getting plenty of assistance from his defenders with Tuanzebe throwing himself into a challenge to deny Kane just as the England skipper was about to get his shot away. The loose ball was picked up by Madueke and his cross was turned goalwards by Rashford at the far post but his former Manchester United team-mate Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared off the line.
It wasn’t one-way traffic, though, and DR Congo almost doubled their lead after 41 minutes.
Wan-Bissaka got down the right and his low cross caught the England defenders sleeping and Yoane Wissa nipped in only to fire his close-range shot against the outside of the right post.
There was controversy a minute later when Kane was played through only to go over the outstretched arm of Mpasi. England screamed for a penalty but Jordanian referee Adham Makhadmeh deemed the Bayern Munich star had dived.
England were, finally, warming to the task and they had more chances as the first half came to a close.
Mpasi denied Bellingham again with an even better save from a Madueke cross and then also blocked Kane who had found space at the far post to latch on to Rice’s corner.
Kane digs England out of a hole, yet again
England continued to press in the second half but they could not find the killer touch.
Rashford shot into the sidenetting, Mpasi produced another brilliant save to keep out Bellingham’s cross that was deflected towards goal.
That was until the 74th minute when Anthony Gordon, on for Rashford, clipped the ball in and Kane got ahead of his marker for the first time all afternoon to plant a header past Mpasi. It was his 12th goal at a World Cup finals, pulling him level with Pele.
The relief was evident and, as DR Congo wilted, England finally started to assert their authority.
It still required another moment of brilliance from Kane to settle it, however.
Mpasi saved from Bellingham for the umpteenth time and when the ball was recycled by Gordon, it fell to Kane, who dragged the ball away from his marker before unleashing a right-footed piledriver into the net.
It was harsh on DR Congo but England won’t care, although they know they will have to play an awful lot better at a hostile Azteca at the weekend.
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