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Thomas Tuchel has called on his England squad to carry forward the 'genuine belief' gained from their hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo, after surviving what he described as the 'worst possible start' to keep their World Cup campaign on track. The Three Lions narrowly avoided an early exit in the round of 32 thanks to a late intervention from their captain.

Tuchel calls for composure after early shock

Tuchel acknowledged that England endured a dreadful beginning to their knockout encounter when Brian Cipenga found space in the box and beat Jordan Pickford at his near post. The seventh-minute opener left the tournament favourites rattled, but the German coach praised his players’ mental resilience in turning the tide under pressure.

"If everyone gets what they like, we have an early goal, another goal, and an easy afternoon," Tuchel told BBC Sport. "You have to deal with whatever comes. They scored very early. After the water break, we created four or five chances. The penalty call didn’t go our way. We just kept knocking and believing. The reaction and belief were exceptional. We found a way to win. It was well deserved."

The importance of struggle

Tuchel believes that England’s ability to fight back from behind will serve them better in the long run than an easy victory would have, as overcoming adversity strengthens their resolve for the later stages of the tournament. According to Opta, this was only the second time in World Cup history that England have won a match after conceding the first goal, the previous instance being the 1966 final against Germany (4-2). The Three Lions’ resilience will be tested again as they prepare to meet Mexico in the round of 16.

"We always want an easy game and to score first," Tuchel reflected. "But when you come back from a goal down, those experiences build genuine belief. The players know exactly what they did and what it took. We kept believing despite the worst start imaginable — first shot, first goal. It became harder, but after the first water break, we controlled the game. I think we should have had a penalty. The substitutes came on, gave everything, and we won. It was deserved, but we had to work hard for it."

Kane surpasses Pele in record-breaking showing

Although England lacked fluency at times, Harry Kane once again demonstrated why he remains indispensable for the Three Lions. It was the captain who equalised, heading in Anthony Gordon’s cross from close range. The same pair combined again in the 86th minute, with Gordon recovering the ball after Jude Bellingham’s shot was saved by Lionel Mpasi, allowing Kane to fire home from the edge of the box. The brace not only sealed England’s progression but also saw Kane move to 13 career World Cup goals, surpassing Pele’s historic tally.

"That’s what we expect from him, and it’s what he expects from himself," Tuchel said about his skipper. "In tough matches, close matches – Harry steps up to decide them. Top level."

He added: "He’s getting better."

Kane’s strikes in the 75th and 86th minutes rescued England after a stubborn DR Congo defence, marshalled by goalkeeper Mpasi, came close to producing one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Impact from the bench and team unity

The introduction of Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka proved decisive, with Gordon assisting both of Kane’s goals. In doing so, Gordon became the first England player in World Cup history to be directly involved in more than one goal as a substitute. Tuchel credited the substitutes’ attitude and energy, both during hydration breaks and from the sidelines, as key factors in the comeback.

"As I’ve said throughout the tournament, the energy and team spirit are at the highest level," Tuchel remarked. "Everyone understands what stage we are in. The players who don’t start keep pushing, stay positive during water breaks, and support those on the pitch. Everyone feels comfortable whether starting or finishing the game. We must maintain that mindset — when it gets tough, stay patient and keep believing. The opponent’s keeper [Lionel Mpasi] was outstanding with the saves he made."