England were staring at a World Cup exit when Brian Cipenga put Congo DR ahead inside seven minutes, but Harry Kane had other ideas. The captain converted twice in the closing stages, at the 75th and 86th minute, to seal a 2-1 comeback win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. England’s xG of 2.04 told the real story: they created plenty, eventually forced the issue through substitutions and pressure, and advanced to the Round of 16 despite a shaky first half.
Key Moments
- 7′, Congo DR strike first: Brian Cipenga finishes to put the underdogs ahead, stunning England’s backline inside the opening minutes.
- 19′, Jude Bellingham picks up a yellow card for tripping, adding pressure on England’s midfield engine at a difficult moment.
- 61′, Thomas Tuchel makes a double change, withdrawing Marcus Rashford and Noni Madueke (both replaced) to freshen up the attack.
- 75′, Harry Kane equalizes with a normal finish, ending England’s long wait for a goal and shifting the momentum completely.
- 86′, Kane completes the turnaround with his second of the night, putting England ahead for the first time and essentially ending the contest.
Tactical Breakdown
England dominated the ball throughout, finishing with 60% possession, 517 passes at 91% accuracy, and 16 total shots compared to Congo DR’s seven. Seven of those shots hit the target, and an xG of 2.04 confirmed that the chances were there from early on. The problem was converting them: Congo DR’s goalkeeper made five saves and the Leopards defended deep and compactly in their 4-3-3, limiting England to mostly perimeter work in the first half.
The turning point arrived at the hour mark. Tuchel sent on fresh legs with a double substitution at minute 61, and the shift in tempo was visible almost immediately. England began finding more space between Congo DR’s lines, and the pressure eventually cracked the defense open. Spence came on at 70 to provide width, and within five minutes Kane had equalized. The game was England’s from that point.
Congo DR’s undoing was a combination of an ultra-low block that held for 74 minutes but simply could not absorb 90. Their xG of just 0.80, with only two shots on target and four offsides, showed how little they threatened once Cipenga’s early goal was answered. The Leopards tried to manage the result rather than extend their lead, and England’s volume of attempts made that a dangerous strategy against a striker of Kane’s caliber.
Player Ratings
World Cup knockout bracket
Knockout results, aggregate scores across legs; winners in bold, penalty shootouts noted.
Head to Head
Verdict
England advance to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, though this performance offered as many concerns as positives. Conceding in the seventh minute to a side ranked well below them and needing a late double from their captain to survive is not the profile of a tournament favorite. Kane, at least, delivered when it mattered. They will need considerably more from the first whistle if they are to go deep in this competition.