Harry Kane

Kane Weaves His Spell as England's Lions Devour DR Congo's Leopards: Player Ratings Revealed

2 Jul 2026 5 min read 0 views

Harry Kane proved to be England's hero in its World Cup last-32 clash against DR Congo, netting twice in the closing stages of the second half to secure a hard-earned 2–1 victory.

A disastrous opening saw Brian Cipenga find the net in the seventh minute, with some poor defending handing DR Congo a well-deserved early lead, and an incredibly frustrating first half for England reached its peak when Kane's penalty appeals were dismissed just before the interval.

Tuchel's side had been fortunate moments before when Yoane Wissa rattled the post from close range, yet England showed very little in the early stages after the restart to hint that a comeback was coming.

Then Kane delivered when it counted. First, he met Anthony Gordon's cross to direct a header past Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, before unleashing a stunning strike into the roof of the net to seal a round of 16 showdown with Mexico at Estadio Azteca.

One Thing We Can't Ignore

Pre-match discussion largely focused on how England would break down another defensive low block after being stifled by Ghana and Panama earlier in the tournament. Yet perhaps more attention should have been directed toward England's own defensive weaknesses.

England's attacking energy—which has since diminished—masked a shaky defensive showing in the opening 4–2 victory over Croatia, while Ghana and Panama both exposed significant problems for Tuchel's side on the counter. The back four, which has been reshuffled for every game at this tournament, has looked worryingly exposed.

DR Congo's opening goal perfectly illustrated England's defensive frailties. A single lofted ball sliced through the backline as Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa stepped up too soon, with Djed Spence then leaving two attackers onside. Completely isolated and outnumbered, the Tottenham Hotspur fullback had no chance of making a recovery block, and Jordan Pickford was unable to bail him out after being caught at his near post.

England was fortunate to trail by only one at halftime. Wissa found room in the penalty area just before the break, drifting away from Konsa with ease, and should have doubled the lead when he struck the woodwork from close range.

The defensive frailties persisted after the restart, with the Leopards repeatedly finding time and space on the break. The more England pressed for an equalizer, the more gaps appeared, and a sharper opponent could easily have made them pay for such a careless display.

Kane's brilliance will dominate the headlines following his second-half heroics, but England is well aware it must significantly tighten up defensively if it hopes to go deep in the tournament and claim a second world title.

England Player Ratings vs. DR Congo (4-2-3-1)

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

GK: Jordan Pickford—6.2: The Everton shot-stopper has struggled to instill confidence this summer and must accept responsibility for being beaten far too easily at his near post by Cipenga.

RB: Djed Spence—6.8: Completely out of position and caught in no man's land as Cipenga broke the deadlock. Did at least show some energy when venturing into the DR Congo half.

CB: Ezri Konsa—7.1: Konsa's inconsistent displays were a concern during the group stage, and the Aston Villa centre-back looked a step off the pace in Atlanta as well.

CB: Marc Guéhi—7.3: Much like his defensive partner, Guéhi appears vulnerable against direct counter-attacks. Clearly not operating at his typically high standards.

LB: Nico O'Reilly—7.1: O'Reilly gives the impression of holding back for England, afforded fewer of the attacking freedoms that make him such an exciting weapon for Manchester City.

CM: Elliot Anderson—8.0: Pressed blue shirts relentlessly at every opportunity without contributing a great deal in possession.

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CM: Declan Rice—7.2: When England needed him most, Rice turned in a subdued performance that lacked his trademark authority, though a selfless spell at right back late on helped his team get over the line.

RW: Noni Madueke—7.7: Remains an incredibly frustrating player to watch. Carved out space and angles with his quick feet, but once again failed to deliver the required end product.

AM: Jude Bellingham—7.1: Tested Mpasi's hands with two first-half headers as he looked to be England's driving force for the second consecutive match. Those were the Real Madrid star's only notable contributions.

LW: Marcus Rashford—7.2: Wasted two excellent opportunities either side of halftime, one of which was cleared off the line, and was alarmingly imprecise when trying to set up teammates.

ST: Harry Kane—8.9: When England desperately needed Kane's clinical edge, he answered the call. After heading home his third goal of the tournament, Kane then lashed a superb winner into the roof of the net. Absolutely outstanding.

SUB: Bukayo Saka (61' for Madueke)—6.7: Unable to provide much of a spark against a tiring DR Congo side.

SUB: Anthony Gordon (61' for Rashford)—8.1: Helped ignite a turnaround from the bench by providing two assists for Kane. An excellent cameo.

SUB: Eberechi Eze (71' for Spence)—6.4: Rarely involved.

SUB: John Stones (90+1') for Rice—N/A

Subs not used: Dean Henderson (GK), James Trafford (GK), Dan Burn, Jarell Quansah, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Jordan Henderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Ivan Toney.