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England’s captain delivered one of his finest performances in national colours, rescuing his side from the brink of disaster and leading them to victory over DR Congo in Atlanta.

It was Harry Kane who single-handedly pulled England back from the edge, safeguarding Thomas Tuchel’s position and preventing the travelling fans from leaving disheartened and disappointed. The England skipper’s leadership and quality shone through once again. The team will now need him at his best when they travel to face Mexico at altitude in the Azteca Stadium. As Kane and his teammates left the pitch, they were met with thunderous applause and the crowd singing in celebration—a stark contrast to the mood earlier in the match, when England’s display had often bordered on chaotic.

How many times has Kane rescued England? This may well have been his finest spell in an England shirt: two goals in 11 second-half minutes during his 118th international appearance. Kane’s response to England’s near-collapse encapsulated every aspect of his game—intelligent movement, a precise and powerful header, a clinical finish, and an unrelenting desire to change the course of the match. His tally for England now stands at 84 goals, and few would bet against him reaching the 100 mark.

His first goal, a commanding header, brought immense relief to most of the 68,239 spectators inside the stadium. The atmosphere grew louder and more optimistic as England pressed forward. Tuchel’s substitutions paid off: Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon replaced the ineffective Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford, while Eberechi Eze came on for the outclassed Djed Spence. Declan Rice was shifted to right-back, from where he pushed high up the field until cramp forced him off. Kane’s second goal, vintage Kane, saw him create space and drive England towards the round of 16. DR Congo, ranked 41st in the world, were eventually overwhelmed by the team ranked fourth—but England have much to improve upon.

The first half was reminiscent of the disastrous night in Nice in 2016—uninspired and error-strewn. It was the kind of performance that puts a manager’s job in jeopardy. England went into half-time to boos and the memory of dismal defending, several sharp saves from Lionel Mpasi, and a contentious VAR ruling denying them a penalty. Even the cheerleading display at the interval couldn’t distract from the poor showing. Tuchel’s persistent issue at right-back continued to haunt him in this tournament—he had overlooked the fitness concerns of Reece James and Tino Livramento, ignored Trent Alexander-Arnold, and was now forced to rely on Spence, who was quickly targeted by DR Congo.

England’s early swagger evaporated within minutes. The fans had painted the stands red and white, but their optimism faded as Tuchel’s reshuffled defence cracked just seven minutes in. A switch from right to left caught England out, with Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa pulled out of position, leaving Spence exposed. As he moved inside to mark Noah Sadiki, the ball sailed past him. Brian Cipenga found himself free, controlled the pass, and struck. Jordan Pickford expected him to go across goal, stepping left to cover the far post, but Cipenga instead fired at the near post, beating the keeper. It was a poor moment for Pickford and will inevitably rekindle debate about whether James Trafford should be introduced next season. Cipenga’s acrobatic celebration—his first international goal—was as memorable as the strike itself, with DR Congo’s substitutes spilling onto the pitch in jubilation.

Still, England fans kept faith. When Jude Bellingham was booked for fouling Nathanael Mbuku, they continued chanting his name. The midfielder responded by testing Mpasi with a header that was pushed away. Moments later, Kane was brought down by Mpasi inside the box after rounding him, but referee Adham Makhadmeh waved play on, and a VAR review upheld the decision, leaving Kane visibly frustrated.

England could have turned things around before the break, but DR Congo’s defence was dogged. Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared a shot off the line from former Manchester United teammate Rashford, and Kane was again denied by Mpasi. At the other end, Wan-Bissaka’s cross deflected off Nico O’Reilly and reached Yoane Wissa, whose shot beat Pickford but struck the post, sparing England further embarrassment.

At that stage, England were staring at humiliation, Tuchel was on the brink, and the Football Association faced uncomfortable questions. The response came after the hour mark when Tuchel finally made bold changes. Saka entered to a roar, replacing Madueke, and Gordon came on for Rashford. From there, England seized control.

The comeback was orchestrated by Kane. Rice delivered a cross from the left, Gordon picked out Kane, who shook off Axel Tuanzebe—pitting Bayern Munich’s man against Burnley’s—and headed home past a tiring Mpasi. The stadium erupted. Minutes later, after Bellingham was denied, Gordon recycled the ball, Kane created space, and fired in his second, sealing the win. The celebrations were raucous, the fans in full voice, but the defence remains a concern. Next up: Mexico City.