Kane rescues England against DR Congo: Winners and losers

England squeezed past DR Congo in a performance that served as both a rescue mission and a reality check. While Harry Kane proved why he is a world-class striker with a match-winning double, the overall display highlighted significant flaws that could derail England's World Cup dreams if not addressed immediately.

Kane was the undisputed winner of the night, stepping up just when the team looked stagnant. His movement for the first goal was clinical, and his second finish was a spectacular strike that secured the comeback. Anthony Gordon also emerged as a key figure, providing the vital impact off the bench that had been missing from the starting wingers.

Harry Kane is a special player, and this was a truly special finish, a spank into the roof of the net that left the goalie rooted to his spot. Thomas Tuchel

The losers, however, included England's defensive setup and starting wide players. Jordan Pickford was at fault for the opening goal, failing to make a save he should have controlled. Furthermore, the tactical deployment of Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford failed to deliver, leaving Thomas Tuchel to rely on his in-game management and hydration-break adjustments to fix the mess.

Tuchel himself deserves credit for his substitutions and the energy he injected during the second-half break, but his insistence that the team remained composed contradicts the reality observed on the pitch. Unless England can fix their tendency to fall flat at the start of both halves, they will eventually find an opponent they cannot outscore.