Harry Kane’s quickfire double saves England from World Cup humiliation

Harry Kane scored twice as England came from behind to begin their World Cup knockout campaign this by beating DR Congo in Atlanta. Victory sets a last-16 tie against Mexico in Mexico City following the co-hosts’ 2-0 victory over Ecuador on Tuesday. It started off in awful fashion for England as DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga opened the scoring after just seven minutes, finding acres of space at the back post and beating Jordan Pickford far too easily. Kane was then denied a penalty on the stroke of half-time despite Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi appearing to make contact with the England captain. But Kane got his own back deep into the second-half, rising highest in the box to hammer home a header from substitute Anthony Gordon’s cross and level the scores. The England captain then scored a stunning winner late on to save his side from humiliation. This live blog has now closed. Full-time: England 2-1 DR Congo Goal – Kane fires in winner Goal – Kane levels for England Half time: England 0-1 DR Congo Goal – Cipenga puts DR Congo in front Sort: Newest first Oldest first July 1, 2026 8:00 pm Thanks for tuning in Adam Millington That’s all from us for this evening as Harry Kane rescues England’s World Cup and guides them to a comeback victory against DR Congo.The Three Lions are next in action in the early hours of Monday morning, when they take on Mexico at the Azteca at 1am UK time.Should they beat Mexico, they will face either Brazil or Norway in the quarter-finals. Argentina are then among the opponents they could face in the semi-finals.For now, read Pete Hall’s thoughts from the Mercedes-Benz Stadium below.Pete Hall: England would be a shambles without Harry Kane July 1, 2026 7:55 pm ‘Kane is ridiculous’ Adam Millington England midfielder Declan Rice, speaking to the BBC: “I’m just trying to gather my thoughts and settle myself down. To win at the end, I’m obviously buzzing.“I think even when we went 1-0 down, we were really calm. I still thought we had chances, I thought we had a penalty not given. It’s just about keeping going. If you keep doing it, keep doing it, something’s going to come.“Harry Kane is ridiculous. 72 goals this season [for club and country], that’s just not normal, that’s ridiculous numbers. He’s a proper leader, he’s a captain, he trains every day and gets on with the group. “That second goal, how many times do you see someone play it out and try to get back in the box for a header? What a player. Lucky to have him.”On playing at right back: “It was probably the hardest 12 minutes of the game. In games like that, it was probably too much of a basketball match at times. We just had to take the sting out of it. I feel like we probably made a bit more hard work out of it physically than we needed to. To do anything for this team, I said of course and gave it my best. Let’s just see what happens next game, hopefully I don’t have to be at right back.” July 1, 2026 7:45 pm England would be a shambles without Kane Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Kane spared England’s blushes against DR Congo (Photo: Reuters)Reporting from Mercedes-Benz Stadium:We already knew this. But how often do England’s genuinely world-class players truly step up on the biggest stage of all?In modern times, you can count them on one hand. Wayne Rooney in 2004. Paul Gascoigne in 1996. Michael Owen in 1998, perhaps. David Beckham, in moments.In a tournament when his elite peers from around the globe have really come to the fore, the only striker in Europe with more league goals than Erling Haaland pulled a turgid England out of the mire again, beating his chest like the Lionhearted captain he has become.On the day he drew level with Sir Bobby Moore and Billy Wright in games started as England captain, Harry Kane’s double, his 71st and 72nd goals in the most remarkable season, fired England to the last-16 against a dogged DR Congo. When, for so long, almost 10 years to the day since that Icelandic invasion in the south of France, it appeared England were set to suffer their greatest humiliation in 76 years.Read more here July 1, 2026 7:35 pm ‘Belief is one of a kind’ Adam Millington England manager Thomas Tuchel tells the BBC: “It was very difficult because they got an early goal but after the first break there were 3, 4, 5 big chances. We kept knocking to crack that rock and make it happen. It got more and more difficult but the reaction and the belief is one of a kind and they were ready to keep doing what was necessary.”“It’s what you expect from Kane. I think it’s what he expects from himself. In difficult matches, close matches, Harry is there to decide them.“Subs: “The energy and the team spirit is on the highest level and the commitment from everyone. Everyone fully understands what it really takes. You can see the level of support coming onto the pitch and even from the players who are not playing. I think everyone feels very comfortable when they play, when they are selected to finish the match because of the atmosphere in the team.“We want it easier, but if you come from 1-0 down and need maybe the last quarter to be so strong, these are also the experiences that give you genuine belief. Now that they’ve felt it, they have the reward in front of our fans. I think they’re well aware of what they did and know what it took today. They are fully committed and full of belief.” July 1, 2026 7:25 pm ‘It was tough’ Adam Millington England had to come from behind to beat DR Congo (Photo: AP)England’s Elliot Anderson tells the BBC: “It was a good game, it was tough. We knew what they would do and it was exactly that. We just stuck by each other and got through.“[Harry Kane is a] big game player as you know. You look to them to get us through to the next round. We rebuild the foundations and try to get them the ball and they will do their stuff.“I think the first 20 minutes I thought we were pretty good, just struggled to score. The keeper was amazing.“Enjoy it, that was [Kane’s] main message. Then we get our head down and work from it. We’ll have a good night to enjoy it and then we’ll get back on with it.” July 1, 2026 7:13 pm ‘A crazy game’ Adam Millington England captain Harry Kane tells the BBC: “It feels amazing to be honest.“What a crazy game. First and foremost playing a tough team. After the first hydration break we upped the level, their keeper made some unbelievable saves. It was just about pounding the rock and our moments would come. We have hero moments and for me it was the day.“You have to stay patient. The last couple games were very similar. When you get to knockout football the pressure and risk is higher. These rounds are just getting through. We’re in the part of the tournament where you have to grind wins out and that’s what we’ve done today.“I just told the boys to enjoy it [in the huddle]. We’re through, so enjoy it. We’re fighting for every margin so I want the boys to enjoy it with the fans like we did.” July 1, 2026 7:04 pm Mexico await in the last 16 Adam Millington Victory means England will face Mexico in the next round of the World Cup.That is a 1am kick off for those in the UK on Monday, with the game taking place in Mexico City. July 1, 2026 7:00 pm Full-time: England 2-1 DR Congo Adam Millington England escaped defeat thanks to one man – captain Harry Kane.The Three Lions are through to the last 16.HARRY KANE FIRES ENGLAND AHEAD! The captain's sensational strike puts the Three Lions 2-1 up against DR Congo pic.twitter.com/sVidod2tPf— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 6:55 pm Kane moves ahead of Pele Adam Millington England 2-1 DR CongoWith his second goal of the evening, Harry Kane has upped his tally for World Cup goals to 13. That’s more than Pele. July 1, 2026 6:49 pm Goal – Kane fires in winner Adam Millington Pick that one out.Harry Kane has turned it around!Anthony Gordon slips the ball to the England captain, who carries the ball and gets past three defenders before unleashing an absolute rocket, beating Lionel Mpesi at his near post. July 1, 2026 6:41 pm A captain’s goal Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Harry Kane has scored 12 goals at World Cups for England (Photo: Reuters)Reporting from Mercedes-Benz StadiumA captain’s goal. Great movement from Kane, but should the goalkeeper do better? Harsh after the game he has had. Now go win this, and prepare for a mauling in Mexico City. July 1, 2026 6:37 pm Goal – Kane levels for England Adam Millington England are level!Anthony Gordon dinks a cross into the middle and Harry Kane’s header beats Lionel Mpasi.There is not much power behind Kane’s effort and Mpasi manages to get a hand to it, but he can’t keep it out.Harry Kane pulls England level against DR Congo! The captain delivers when the Three Lions needed him most pic.twitter.com/JMmPOlmqhm— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 6:35 pm Eze replaces Spence Adam Millington England 0-1 DR CongoThomas Tuchel makes an attacking change at the hydration break, with Djed Spence being replaced by Eberechi Eze.It’s now or never for England. July 1, 2026 6:34 pm Tuchel a man on a mission Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Reporting from Mercedes-Benz StadiumWhat a way to sum this up so far. That touch, straight out of play and into a hydration break. Tuchel comes steaming out of his technical area to give some forceful instructions to Anthony Gordon then onto others. A man on a mission, with his job very much on the line. July 1, 2026 6:23 pm Saka and Gordon brought on Adam Millington England 0-1 DR CongoBukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon replace Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford. July 1, 2026 6:22 pm Feels like a goal is coming Pete HallNorth-West Football Correspondent Lionel Mpasi has been impressive (Photo: Reuters)Reporting from Mercedes-Benz StadiumLionel Mpasi will remember this day for the rest of his life. Another stunning stop to deny Jude Bellingham. You do feel like a goal is coming, so no need to panic. Yet. July 1, 2026 6:17 pm England energetic since the break Adam Millington England 0-1 DR CongoDR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi is keeping his side in this one.Jude Bellingham has a decent chance, getting in down the left-hand side before firing a shot towards the near post.It takes a deflection on the way and Mpasi does well to react well and tip it away after the trajectory changes. July 1, 2026 6:08 pm Second half begins Adam Millington England 0-1 DR CongoEngland need to turn this around within the next 45 minutes. July 1, 2026 6:00 pm If it’s a dive, it’s a booking too Kat LucasFootball News Editor Reporting from the United StatesIn 13/14 years of watching Harry Kane, I have only seen him “dive” once. It was 2018 and he went down very softly at Anfield under contact from Loris Karius. And if it is a dive, it’s a booking too – which the ref clearly wasn’t convinced of.Frustration for EnglandEngland were left in disbelief after being denied a penalty from this challenge on Harry Kane by Lionel Mpasi. pic.twitter.com/VdLXwn4Fjl— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 1, 2026 July 1, 2026 5:57 pm England have to be better Daniel StoreySport Feature Writer of the Year Reporting from Mercedes-Benz StadiumWell, England are 45 minutes from going out of a major tournament at the earliest point since 2014. They have been unfortunate not to score, not least down to a magnificent goalkeeping display. But you don’t get to caveat criticism when you replaced a guy that got to finals for the manager who we were told would win them. It has to be better, it has to be less chaotic in defence and it has to make more sense.