World Cup Story Feed
World Cup Story Feed
Final whistle, Atlanta.
The final whistle blew. Atalanta.
The scoreboard read 2-1. The boos from the English fans in the stands hadn't yet faded.
For the first time since 1966, England came from behind to win a World Cup knockout match. A 60-year curse, shattered tonight.
Their opponent was the Democratic Republic of Congo. 52 years ago, they were called Zaire, conceding 14 goals in three World Cup matches. They drew with Portugal in the group stage, beat Uzbekistan, and fought their way into the knockout rounds.
Rewind to the 7th minute.
Mbenza launched a long ball from the back, and Bryan Chingenga timed his run to beat the offside trap. The left winger from Almería in Spain's second division. Facing an onrushing Pickford, from a tight angle, he poked it in at the near post.
0-1.
The tournament favorites had been carved open by a World Cup debutant in 7 minutes. The broadcast showed Bellingham and Rice arguing with their hands raised. Alan Shearer was swearing live on the BBC commentary box.
DR Congo coach Desabre had been blunt before the match: all the pressure was on England. It was an open secret. Unfortunately, the England defense didn't get the memo.
For the next 68 minutes, England strung the ball around like prayer beads.
60% possession. 16 shots. 7 big chances.
Stats enough to win three ordinary league games, but not enough to unlock a Ligue 1 backup goalkeeper.
Lionel Mpasi. 31 years old, second-choice keeper for Le Havre. 8 saves in a single match.
He denied Bellingham's close-range header and kept Kane's driven shot out. Mpasi had said before the tournament that the World Cup would be the "pinnacle of his career." With those 8 saves, he threw those words right back in England's faces.
DR Congo striker Wissa hit the post with a first-half shot. It could have been 0-2.
Tuchel chewed his gum on the sidelines. At his pre-match press conference, he said, "No, we're not the top favourites." It didn't sound like humility now. It sounded like a pre-written disclaimer.
The Times had reported his contract included "performance clauses." If England had been knocked out tonight, the FA could have sacked him without paying the full severance.
In the 75th minute, Anthony Gordon swung a cross in from the right. Kane attacked the ball, heading it into the net. 1-1.
In the 86th minute, Kane picked up the ball at the edge of the box. He beat three defenders with a series of feints and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner.
A header, a long-range strike. They pulled Tuchel back from the brink.
Kane's World Cup goal tally reached 13, surpassing Pelé. He has 5 goals in this tournament, trailing only Messi and Mbappé.
The numbers are solid. The performance was too soft.
For the first 68 minutes, the attack was all chaos. It took the captain using his body to fill the tactical holes in the final 15 minutes.
Next up: the Azteca Stadium.
Mexico won all three group matches without conceding a goal. In 1970, Pelé lifted his third World Cup there.
Now Kane takes his 13 goals there, facing the tournament's toughest defense.
The curse is broken. But relying on the captain to work miracles in the final 15 minutes every game? Taking that tactical plan to the Azteca...
Tuchel's severance clause will likely be triggered sooner or later.
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