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By Megan Armstrong
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DR Congo could smell victory — and not just any victory, but likely the most significant victory in the team's history.
Brian Cipenga buried one from the back post to give DR Congo a 1-0 advantage in the seventh minute, and the Three Lions were pressed for much of the match afterward.
England had chance after chance to equalize, but DR Congo defended the box extremely well, and when a shot did squeak through, goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi made stunning save after stunning save. Jude Bellingham was so perplexed by Mpasi that Bellingham hugged him during the match.
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Then, Harry Kane happened — the surest thing in Three Lions' history.
Kane headed in a lobbed cross from Anthony Gordon to equalize in the 75th minute, and the England captain rifled one of the most beautiful goals you'll ever see to secure the 2-1 win in the 86th minute.
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Kane credited Mpasi for making "some unbelievable saves in that first half" and called DR Congo "a tough team, well-organized team," but he never lost faith.
"It was just about pounding the rock, keep pounding the rock, and our moments would come," Kane said post-match, per FOX Sports. "We spoke about people having 'hero moments.' It could be anyone on the team, whether it's me, a save from [Jordan Pickford], a block from the defenders, whoever it is. We have hero moments, and for me, it was today."
Kane's brace against DR Congo was his second brace of this World Cup and brought his goal total to five, tied with Erling Haaland for second to Argentina's Lionel Messi (6) and France's Kylian Mbappe (6) in the Golden Boot race. Kane now has 13 all-time World Cup goals, standing alone as England's all-time leading World Cup goalscorer and surpassing the late Brazilian legend Pele on the overall all-time World Cup goals standings.
England now have perhaps the most daunting task a team could face at this World Cup: going into Azteca in Mexico City to face a red-hot Mexico side in the Round of 16 on Sunday, July 5.
"You play against Mexico in the Azteca, and there will be a lot, a lot, a lot of obstacles waiting for us," England manager Thomas Tuchel said, per ESPN's James Olley. "Not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage, because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It's just impossible and more obstacles will maybe come.
"But we are ready for that, we need it maybe. We have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that, and when the going gets tough, that we will find the answers."
If the Three Lions are to win, the answer will likely be Harry Kane.
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