The Three Lions were staring into the abyss, mere minutes from tumbling out of the World Cup in embarrassing fashion. But then came Harry Kane – saviour, hero, and match-winner. The skipper conjured two late goals to snatch a dramatic 2-1 victory over DR Congo in Atlanta, sending England hurtling towards a thrilling last-16 showdown with Mexico.
It was a chaotic encounter from start to finish, punctuated by DR Congo's lightning-fast opener after just seven minutes. Brian Cipenga seized on some slack defending to leave Jordan Pickford scrambling, and the keeper's despairing dive couldn't keep out the Congolese striker's low shot. The Three Lions were reeling, their chances of progression hanging precariously in the balance.
Despite a plethora of golden opportunities, England found themselves frustrated by DR Congo's plucky goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi – a true match-winner in his own right. Time and again, he intervened to deny the Three Lions, producing a series of breathtaking saves that left Tuchel's side shell-shocked.
As the clock ticked down, England's anxiety levels skyrocketed. A string of gilt-edged chances went begging – Jude Bellingham was booked for a reckless lunge, and Kane himself could have levelled from a volley. But with 15 minutes remaining, England's talisman took centre stage. His close-range header from Anthony Gordon's cross sparked jubilant scenes in the England camp, before he sealed the win with a stunning second goal – a rasping drive from an acute angle that left Mpasi grasping at air.
For all its drama and tension, this was a sobering reminder of the work still to be done. The hard-fought victory may have secured a ninth World Cup knockout-round win for England since 1966, but it also underlined the need for Tuchel's side to raise their game against a Mexico outfit itching for a World Cup scalp.