NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
England were on the verge of one of the biggest World Cup upsets in recent memory, until the heart and soul of the program emerged more than the problem.
Trailing for most of the match, Harry Kane scored both of England’s goals in the final 21 minutes of the match to advance to the round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Brian Cipenga had given Congo a shock lead after scoring in just the seventh minute of the game, and his defense kept England at bay throughout the break to hydrate in the second half.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Harry Kane of England celebrates before the fans after the victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between England and the Democratic Republic of the Congo at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
But then England’s all-time leading scorer leveled the score with a 75th-minute header from Anthony Gordon’s cross, despite goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi getting his hand on the ball. Eleven minutes later, Kane scored the decisive goal after evading defenders and letting one rip through his right foot and find the top right corner.
The goals were Kane’s 83 and 84 for England, extending his country’s record, in his 118th game. In the World Cup he already has 13 goals, surpassing Pelé’s 12, in 16 games played. He has found the back of the net five times in four games in this tournament.
Harry Kane of England celebrates scoring the team’s first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between England and Democratic Republic of the Congo at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
HOW TO WATCH USA VS BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: LIVE STREAM ROUNDS OF 16 OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
“It was just a matter of hitting the rock, keep hitting the rock and our time would come,” Kane said. “We talk about people having hero moments. It could be anyone on the team…Whoever it is, we have hero moments, and for me that was the day.”
Until then, England had only won one World Cup match after conceding the first goal, and that was in the 1966 final against West Germany at Wembley Stadium.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo entered the match as 12-1 underdogs against a team that has advanced to at least the round of 16 in six of the last seven World Cups. England was eliminated in the quarterfinals in Qatar and finished fourth at Russia 2018.
England will now face a huge task, facing Mexico on their own soil in Mexico City on Sunday.
Harry Kane of England is seen at full time during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 match between England and Democratic Republic of the Congo at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
The United States could face England in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, but, of course, many things would have to go right.
