If only England had 11 men like Harry Kane
ATLANTA — We already knew this. But how often do England’s genuinely world-class players truly step up on the biggest stage of all?
In modern times, you can count them on one hand. Wayne Rooney in 2004. Paul Gascoigne in 1996. Michael Owen in 1998, perhaps. David Beckham, in moments.
In a tournament when his elite peers from around the globe have really come to the fore, the only striker in Europe with more league goals than Erling Haaland pulled a turgid England out of the mire again, beating his chest like the Lionhearted captain he has become.
On the day he drew level with Sir Bobby Moore and Billy Wright in games started as England captain, Harry Kane’s double, his 71st and 72nd goals in the most remarkable season, fired England to the last-16 against a dogged DR Congo. When, for so long, almost 10 years to the day since that Icelandic invasion in the south of France, it appeared England were set to suffer their greatest humiliation in 76 years.
There were literally zero excuses for England. They had returned to their Kansas training camp for a few days, where several of the players insisted it was “feeling like home”, given how the FA had set things up for them.
And the Mercedes-Benz Stadium is the benchmark of how modern stadia should be constructed. The closed roof made for an amazing atmosphere, in the most comfortable, air-conditioned environment.
England expected. They had never lost to an African side in a World Cup match, and only once in their entire history. DR Congo would be tough opponents, with plenty of Premier League experience, but to quote the “elite winner” of a coach, the bigger the games get, the bigger England gets.
Inside seven minutes, a defensive calamity and goalkeeper ineptitude later and DR Congo were on the cusp of history. Brian Cipenga, who plies his trade in the Spanish second tier, scored with a goal that will be replayed in the Cipenga household for generations to come.
Lionel Mpasi put on the kind of all-action display his Argentine namesake could only dream of in the first half. The DR Congo goalkeeper was simply impenetrable as England threw the kitchen sink at him, with Jude Bellingham the most frustrated party from several goal-bound efforts.
Had Kane been awarded the penalty his coming together with Mpasi deserved, then the narrative would likely have been very different. Equally, however, moments before Kane was felled late in the first half and the VAR had switched channels to NBC at the worst possible moment, Yoane Wissa’s incredible miss from only a few yards out could have buried the English advances on the spot.
From his half-time soapbox, Anthony Barry had promised the handbrake was off in the second half. The chances, however, kept on coming and going.
Tuchel’s changes made a big difference, with Anthony Gordon clipping the ball onto the head of the skipper to equalise with 15 minutes to go, the majority of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium breathing a collective breath of air-conditioned relief.
Gordon was again the supplier for Kane’s late winner, but this was all about the sheer brilliance of the skipper, who moved the ball out of his feet and smashed the winner past a stunned Mpasi.
The wild scenes of celebration brought in the entire England bench. What is the collective noun for a group of footballers who know they have got away with one?
After the final whistle, instead of continuing in the euphoria, Kane got his team in a huge huddle and gave them what appeared to be something of a dressing down.
The rest cannot elevate themselves to your standards, Harry, but you’re right – if England are going to overcome all-conquering Mexico on home turf, you’re going to need more help than this.