England player ratings vs DR Congo: Two 9/10s rescue Three Lions as Kane saves the day | Football | Sport

Thomas Tuchel’s England were rescued by all-time record goalscorer and captain Harry Kane to avoid a humiliating round-of-32 exit to DR Congo. After a disappointing first half, England dug deep late on to turn the game around and secure a spot in the round-of-16.

For all of the talk about England saving their best stuff for the knockouts was thrown out of the window just seven minutes into the contest when the African side took the lead. It was a disastrous goal for England to concede, with the defence cut wide open and right-back Djed Spence having been caught in no man’s land. The 1966 winners grew into the game as the half went on, but ought to have found themselves 2-0 down when Yoane Wissa hit the post from six yards out. Tensions boiled over when Kane went over under a foul from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, but the referee waved away any protests and VAR concurred.

England most likely wouldn’t have wanted the half-time whistle to go, given they were knocking on the door. And that was definitely the case just after the restart, given England looked as if they had regressed. Thank goodness for those hydration breaks, ey? Mere minutes after the mid-half stoppage, Kane was on hand to tuck home Anthony Gordon’s pinpoint cross. it was the two of them combining once again for the second, but this was more about Kane’s exquisite movement and thunderous finish. Express Sport hands out player ratings from England vs DR Congo.

One of England’s finest-ever, but he won’t want to see the DR Congo opener back. Most likely his final World Cup match as an England goalkeeper.

Was all over the place for DR Congo’s opener (granted, he wasn’t helped out by his central defenders), but settled as the half went on. Completely anonymous in the second half and offered nothing from an attacking point of view.

Left far too big of a gap between himself and Spence at right back. It was a pretty heinous error, but the Aston Villa man did recover well and continued to be brave (along with partner Marc Guehi) with the high line.

Like Ezri Konsa, looked lost for the opening goal, but rallied well and was on hand to clear when needed.

Back-to-back starts for the Manchester City man, but he hasn’t been able to replicate his performances in a sky blue shirt so far. Quiet from an offensive point of view, but very solid defensively.

Looked much better when playing as the lone midfielder, bizarrely. Had allowed the game to pass him by before the switch that saw Declan Rice move to right back.

Was a bit hit and miss with his set-piece deliveries, as some looked to really threaten the DR Congo backline, while others were far too easy to defend against. Was heading for a 5/10 in midfield, but Tuchel’s switch to right-back allowed him to get on the ball more and impact the game.

One of the few England players who could hold their heads high after the first half. Came mightily close to an equaliser, but not for the first time, Mpasi’s outstretched palm denied the Real Madrid man. Began to fade in the early part of the second half, but never stopped running.

Was positive with his runs in behind the backline, but his execution was diabolical. Looked a shell of the player that dazzled at times this season for La Liga champions Barcelona. Shouldn’t have started.

The England skipper was heading towards an astronomically low rating prior to his second-half leveller. It had been an anonymous showing from the Bayern Munich man, but just when his country needed him, as ever the case, he popped up. Firstly with the header, that just about squeezed into the back of the net, before a truly sensational effort in the dying embers of the match.

Came close to an assist in the first half, but that was about it. Had more touches than any other England attacker before being hooked, but it was far too similar whenever he got the ball. Kept slowing things down and running into trouble. Wild he wasn’t subbed off earlier.

England’s attack were crying out for his class on the ball and while the Arsenal talisman wasn’t directly involved in the goals that led to the win, his introduction was pivotal.

Might’ve felt aggrieved to have been taken out of the team, but he showed everybody when Barcelona have opted to splash big money on his signature (at the expense of England team-mate Marcus Rashford). Super positive in possession and put a proper shift in at both ends of the pitch.

Put himself about and was positive with his passes.