England advances to last 16 after Harry Kane's per...

By Ishaan Kapoor — 2 July 2026 — 4 min read

England secured their spot in the World Cup last 16 after a challenging match against DR Congo. The team faced difficulties early on, with DR Congo taking the lead. Historically, England has not won a knockout game after falling behind since their 1966 World Cup victory against West Germany.

Harry Kane played a pivotal role in England‘s comeback. His first goal came after Declan Rice moved to right-back, an area that appeared vulnerable following the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold. Rice passed to substitute Anthony Gordon, who delivered a ball for Kane to head home. The goalkeeper, who had previously seemed impenetrable, was beaten by the power of the shot.

The second goal, also assisted by Gordon, was described as a game-changer. Kane received the ball, took a touch to bypass defenders, and unleashed a powerful shot that was deemed unsaveable. The coach of DR Congo acknowledged that it took the best striker in the world to defeat their team.

Gordon praises Kane’s consistency

Anthony Gordon, who recently signed with Barcelona from Newcastle, provided both assists for Harry Kane during the match. Following the game, Gordon spoke about Kane, drawing comparisons to Barcelona great Lionel Messi.

Gordon highlighted Kane‘s elite level of play, noting that his current season has only been surpassed by Lionel Messi. He described being around Kane as an opportunity to learn and observe his habits, emphasizing that Kane‘s consistency, hard work, and seriousness in every drill contribute to his high performance.

Gordon recalled that he knew Kane‘s second shot was destined for the net as soon as it was struck. He stressed that while any player at that level can score a good goal, Kane‘s consistent phenomenal performance in training and games sets him apart. Gordon views Kane as an inspiration to his teammates.

VAR controversies and upcoming fixtures

The match also saw several decisions involving the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) that sparked discussion. One incident involved Harry Kane being denied a penalty, with the referee not even sending it for review. According to one review, it was considered a deserved penalty.

Another VAR controversy occurred in a different match, where Belgium was awarded a penalty in the 125th minute, with many observers believing the initial contact happened outside the box. Additionally, a red card issued to Balogun was described as odd, as the on-field referee did not initially give a red card and the tackle was considered accidental or reckless rather than violent.

Looking ahead, England is scheduled to face co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca. Other upcoming matches include Spain against Austria, and Portugal facing Croatia.

The match between Spain and Austria is set for July 3, 12:30 AM IST. Spain, the reigning European champions, feature talented players like Lamine Yamal and are known for their ball possession. Austria, managed by Ralf Rangnick, is described as a disciplined team.

For Spain, key players like Pedri and Fabián Ruiz are expected to dictate the tempo, aiming to create gaps in Austria‘s defence for players like Yamal to exploit. Austria‘s strategy will likely involve pressing Spain‘s build-up, trapping the ball wide, and disrupting their rhythm to prevent Spain from establishing control.

The Portugal versus Croatia match is scheduled for July 3, 4:30 AM IST. This game will feature veteran players like Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and Luka Modrić for Croatia. The midfield battle is anticipated to be a crucial aspect of this encounter.

Portugal will aim to prevent Croatia from controlling the midfield, with players like Bruno Fernandes expected to create opportunities. Croatia will rely on Luka Modrić to influence the game. One report indicates that Barcelona has inquired about Kane during the World Cup, with his contract set to expire next year.

However, it has been reported that Kane is expected to remain at Bayern and sign a new contract, while Barcelona may shift their focus to Julian Alvarez. The US also secured a 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Tillman scoring a free-kick to seal the win after a red card incident.

NewsIndia

England advances to last 16 after Harry Kane’s performance against DR Congo

Gordon praises Kane’s consistency

VAR controversies and upcoming fixtures

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Ishaan Kapoor