England narrowly escaped a catastrophic World Cup exit when Harry Kane struck twice in the closing stages to secure a 2-1 victory over DR Congo. For the majority of the match, Thomas Tuchel's side delivered a concerning performance that left them perilously close to elimination, a result that would have ranked among England's most humiliating tournament defeats. Kane's intervention transformed the narrative entirely, turning what had been a nightmare scenario into a dramatic comeback that kept the Three Lions' campaign alive.

Kane's clinical finishing secured England's progression to a knockout tie against Mexico, with his late heroics greeted by jubilation from supporters and celebrations from the captain's family and wider squad. The intensity of Kane's celebration underscored the magnitude of his contribution—not merely as a goalscorer but as the player who steered his nation away from early tournament elimination and toward the knockout stages.