Harry Kane scored one of the great England goals to set up a grand World Cup occasion at Mexico City‘s Azteca Stadium, but only after a general performance entirely unworthy of such descriptions.
Thomas Tuchel‘s side got away with one against a defiant and spirited Democratic Republic of Congo, but only after Kane let fly to remind everyone exactly why this entire team is built around him.
He is central to hopes that seem to dwindle with every display, which actually moves England closer to the trophy.
It takes a bit to get your head around, sure, but then Tuchel really had to get thinking about this most arduous of challenges for England.
A manager specifically appointed for his knockout record came close to losing his very first one, in a game that for 68 minutes looked set to be a humiliation worse than Iceland, arguably the country’s greatest embarrassment.
Tuchel, for his part, then showed exactly why his knockout record is so admired. He acted – with a series of proactive subs that did turn the game.
The essential, eventual equaliser came from the link-up between Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice, after the playmaker’s introduction had given England so much more impetus and the Arsenal midfielder was moved to right back.
From that, the ball was worked to another substitute, Anthony Gordon, who clipped the ball across for Kane.
A DR Congo defence that had previously been so defiant and seen Lionel Mpasi make so many superb saves suddenly afforded the striker that crucial extra space, as the goalkeeper also should have done better with the header.
It was like something switched in the entire game, but it also showed why there are mounting concerns ahead of the last-16 tie against an entire Mexican football culture that is absolutely baying for this home game of all home games.
Tuchel may have decisively addressed a number of errors in this match, but it can’t go unsaid that many are also of his own making.
The right side remains a huge problem. Brian Cipenga’s brilliantly taken goal came from a situation where there were so many missteps that a lot of blame can be shared around.
Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa were pulled across, Djed Spence had to go with them but was inexplicably behind the two centre-halves, with Noni Madueke not tracking.
From all that space, Cipenga powered in a strike that Jordan Pickford probably should have done better with.
England then seemed utterly rattled by the goal, as if it really was Iceland all over again, as if all of the lessons from the last decade had been lost.
Players were struggling to control the ball. All play was rushed, as blood seemed to rush to Jude Bellingham‘s head. After an argument with Tuchel, Reece James even had to have a word.
The midfield was all over the place and lacking balance, as Kane seemed to lack mobility. While England should have had a penalty when the striker was tripped in the area, one of the reasons they didn’t was because of how leaden he was.
It was easier for the referee to rule a dive.
For England‘s part, though, they did quickly snap out of that. Maybe that’s another effect of the mid-half ad breaks.
DR Congo had a momentum in both periods only for the stoppages to disrupt that and give Tuchel a chance to apply all of that coaching acumen.
England immediately followed the first with their best spell of chances created since the Croatia game.
As bad as they’d been, as much as they’d struggled with DR Congo’s willingness to dribble at them, they could still have had three by half-time. Mpasi had been that good, especially to deny two Bellingham headers. Axel Tuanzebe meanwhile offered a brilliant block on the line from Rashford.
And yet, while England might have lamented those chances, DR Congo can now have regrets over the biggest of all before half-time.
Yoane Wissa should have made it 2-0. England were lucky.
It’s on such moments that games and occasions like this turn, at least over the course of a game.
Tuchel still had to turn his team around. Lesser coaches might have been paralysed. Tuchel’s clear-headedness – even when he looks so energetic himself – helped swing this game.
Eze was introduced to change the emphasis. And yet, even amid all of that, you still need moments. You still need character. You still need personality. You still need elite quality.
If the equaliser came from a team move, the winning of the game was all about one man.
It was maybe symbolic that Bellingham had tried to produce that moment just before. He went for goal when he should have squared for Bukayo Saka, but that only saw the ball come to Kane.
Rather than turn in or just shoot, the captain calmly took it on to drive in a fulminating effort. It was emphatic. It was leadership.
It was England in the last 16 at the Azteca against Mexico. That might be an occasion this performance was not worthy of, but that does not matter for now.
All that matters is England are there. And they’re lucky to have Kane here.
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