England had to rely on Harry Kane to save their skin after the Three Lions narrowly avoided one of the all-time World Cup upsets against DR Congo
Harry Kane was England’s knight in shining armour in Georgia as the Three Lions avoided one of the all-time World Cup upsets thanks to a late strike.
DR Congo had taken an early lead, and looked the better side, as the Three Lions inexplicably turned into a pub team attempting to play football. It was slow and sloppy, but Kane was the man of the moment when he levelled the game in the 75th minute.
And when England needed him the most, Kane lashed the ball into the back of the net to send England into the round of 16 and help save Thomas Tuchel’s blushes – whose howler of a decision almost resulted in an early exit.
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There was much made of Tuchel’s squad selection before the World Cup – with the German boss making a number of controversial decisions.
Each and every one of them backfired on Wednesday evening – the big problem all tournament has been the right-hand side. And it was shambolic at Atlanta Stadium as Djed Spence, who was taken as a left-back, was given the nod.
While England’s sheer lack of creativity of the bench was incredibly evident as aimless crosses were launched into the area while Phil Foden and Cole Palmer sat on their hands at home.
England were nothing short of a disgrace for the opening quarter of the game – Ezri Konsa and Spence looked like they had won a competition to play in the World Cup.
Their struggles helped make an otherwise ordinary DR Congo attack look like Brazil’s 1982 side. But it would be unfair to single them out alone because the only thing worse than England’s defending was their response after falling behind.
Tuchel needed his senior players to seize control. Instead, Jude Bellingham’s biggest contribution was flying into needless challenges, while Marcus Rashford appeared to forget how to control a football.
FIFA’s mandatory hydration break saved the Three Lions from any further embarrassment – with the three minute break killing all of DR Congo’s momentum.
And just as England thought they were getting back into the game, DR Congo had them back on the ropes. Yoanne Wissa should have made it two, and then England should have had a penalty.
Harry Kane was taken down by DR Congo shot-stopper Lionel Mpasi – but was deemed to have dived, with VAR confirming the on-field decision.
Mpasi was a wall in between the sticks, pulling off a number of magical saves as England started to create some chances. Jude Bellingham came close, and then so did Rashford in the second half.
But it still wasn’t good enough from a team that had been tipped as one of the favourites to go all the way. It has been the story of England’s World Cup, you can’t rely on teams to come and play.
Tuchel has to look at himself and his tactics, teams will play a low block – and he has to have a plan.
It was Kane to dig them out of an almighty hole, powering home an Anthony Gordon header to finally beat Mpasi. And it was the Bayern Munich superstar to fire the Three Lions ahead.
Bellingham’s effort was saved, but fell to the path of Gordon who, after beating a defender, poked the ball into the path of Kane – who lashed the ball into the net.
It wasn’t really deserved, it was ugly – but England have made it into the round of 16. Mexico, in Mexico, and at altitude no await for England.
And if they hope to advance to the quarter-finals it will have to be so, so much better.