by Craig Laycock
Original article:
England 2 - 1 DR Congo
Kane (75', 86') | Cipenga (7')
England were 15 minutes away from exiting the World Cup, and had to dig deep and rely on their talismanic striker Harry Kane to save them and get past DR Congo in an encounter full of nervous energy after an early goal from DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga.
DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, also made a series of high-quality saves that made you question whether this was truly going to be England’s night, or whether it was going to result in the most dramatic early England exit for many years.
Coming into this game, much has been made of England’s strength in depth, or rather lack of it, in the right back position. DR Congo, it seems, had been acutely aware of those limitations and decided to play Brian Cipenga very high and wide on the left wing to attack that area on the counter.
Their goal exposed those problems perfectly, with Cipenga picking up a ball that sailed over the head of the adrift RB Djed Spence, before cutting inside and hitting a sweet strike to beat the outstretched Jordan Pickford.
After DR Congo then retreated into a low block, we started to see familiar scenes and nervous energy in the stadium as the predominantly England-supporting crowd were shown something all too familiar: an England in need of a goal facing a side that refuses to be broken down.
England repeatedly tried to work the ball into wide areas and build passing triangles to work their way into the box, or to deliver a ball from the byline, and for much of the game it seemed like they were simply repeating the same old trick, over and over.
However, England had chances. After the first hydration break, they seemed to attack the game with more energy and forced a catalogue of saves from the DR Congo keeper, with Jude Bellingham twice testing him with headers.
Soon after, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once called up for England in 2019, cleared one off the line for DR Congo.
Madueke and Spence on the right never truly convinced that they would be able to find the right key to unlocking the defence, often checking back inside and prioritising keeping possession instead of taking on a man or delivering a cross.
As frustration built, Tuchel made changes and brought on the direct threats of Saka on the right and Gordon on the left, which proved to be a masterstroke against the tiring defence.
With Declan Rice adapting to a makeshift RB position, which he excelled at, England began to push forwards in numbers and really attack the flanks.
The changes delivered, and Anthony Gordon twice turned provider for that man, Harry Kane, who surpassed the legendary Pele to move up to 13 World Cup goals. The first a cross from Gordon, saw Kane leap highest to head the ball in.
And the second, a through ball on the deck, saw Kane spin on the spot, turn his marker and lash the ball into the roof of the net for one of the finest finishes he’s managed at a major tournament. Pure attacking instinct.
England will now play Mexico in the firecracker atmosphere of the Azteca stadium. What a game that’s going to be.
7 min read
England 2 - 1 DR Congo
Kane (75', 86') | Cipenga (7')
England were 15 minutes away from exiting the World Cup, and had to dig deep and rely on their talismanic striker Harry Kane to save them and get past DR Congo in an encounter full of nervous energy after an early goal from DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga.
DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, also made a series of high-quality saves that made you question whether this was truly going to be England’s night, or whether it was going to result in the most dramatic early England exit for many years.
Coming into this game, much has been made of England’s strength in depth, or rather lack of it, in the right back position. DR Congo, it seems, had been acutely aware of those limitations and decided to play Brian Cipenga very high and wide on the left wing to attack that area on the counter.
Their goal exposed those problems perfectly, with Cipenga picking up a ball that sailed over the head of the adrift RB Djed Spence, before cutting inside and hitting a sweet strike to beat the outstretched Jordan Pickford.
After DR Congo then retreated into a low block, we started to see familiar scenes and nervous energy in the stadium as the predominantly England-supporting crowd were shown something all too familiar: an England in need of a goal facing a side that refuses to be broken down.
England repeatedly tried to work the ball into wide areas and build passing triangles to work their way into the box, or to deliver a ball from the byline, and for much of the game it seemed like they were simply repeating the same old trick, over and over.
However, England had chances. After the first hydration break, they seemed to attack the game with more energy and forced a catalogue of saves from the DR Congo keeper, with Jude Bellingham twice testing him with headers.
Soon after, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once called up for England in 2019, cleared one off the line for DR Congo.
Madueke and Spence on the right never truly convinced that they would be able to find the right key to unlocking the defence, often checking back inside and prioritising keeping possession instead of taking on a man or delivering a cross.
As frustration built, Tuchel made changes and brought on the direct threats of Saka on the right and Gordon on the left, which proved to be a masterstroke against the tiring defence.
With Declan Rice adapting to a makeshift RB position, which he excelled at, England began to push forwards in numbers and really attack the flanks.
The changes delivered, and Anthony Gordon twice turned provider for that man, Harry Kane, who surpassed the legendary Pele to move up to 13 World Cup goals. The first a cross from Gordon, saw Kane leap highest to head the ball in.
And the second, a through ball on the deck, saw Kane spin on the spot, turn his marker and lash the ball into the roof of the net for one of the finest finishes he’s managed at a major tournament. Pure attacking instinct.
England will now play Mexico in the firecracker atmosphere of the Azteca stadium. What a game that’s going to be.
Last 32: England forced to dig deep against DR Congo
Thomas Tu-one
Original article:
England 2 - 1 DR Congo
Kane (75', 86') | Cipenga (7')
England were 15 minutes away from exiting the World Cup, and had to dig deep and rely on their talismanic striker Harry Kane to save them and get past DR Congo in an encounter full of nervous energy after an early goal from DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga.
DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, also made a series of high-quality saves that made you question whether this was truly going to be England’s night, or whether it was going to result in the most dramatic early England exit for many years.
Coming into this game, much has been made of England’s strength in depth, or rather lack of it, in the right back position. DR Congo, it seems, had been acutely aware of those limitations and decided to play Brian Cipenga very high and wide on the left wing to attack that area on the counter.
Their goal exposed those problems perfectly, with Cipenga picking up a ball that sailed over the head of the adrift RB Djed Spence, before cutting inside and hitting a sweet strike to beat the outstretched Jordan Pickford.
After DR Congo then retreated into a low block, we started to see familiar scenes and nervous energy in the stadium as the predominantly England-supporting crowd were shown something all too familiar: an England in need of a goal facing a side that refuses to be broken down.
England repeatedly tried to work the ball into wide areas and build passing triangles to work their way into the box, or to deliver a ball from the byline, and for much of the game it seemed like they were simply repeating the same old trick, over and over.
However, England had chances. After the first hydration break, they seemed to attack the game with more energy and forced a catalogue of saves from the DR Congo keeper, with Jude Bellingham twice testing him with headers.
Soon after, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once called up for England in 2019, cleared one off the line for DR Congo.
Madueke and Spence on the right never truly convinced that they would be able to find the right key to unlocking the defence, often checking back inside and prioritising keeping possession instead of taking on a man or delivering a cross.
As frustration built, Tuchel made changes and brought on the direct threats of Saka on the right and Gordon on the left, which proved to be a masterstroke against the tiring defence.
With Declan Rice adapting to a makeshift RB position, which he excelled at, England began to push forwards in numbers and really attack the flanks.
The changes delivered, and Anthony Gordon twice turned provider for that man, Harry Kane, who surpassed the legendary Pele to move up to 13 World Cup goals. The first a cross from Gordon, saw Kane leap highest to head the ball in.
And the second, a through ball on the deck, saw Kane spin on the spot, turn his marker and lash the ball into the roof of the net for one of the finest finishes he’s managed at a major tournament. Pure attacking instinct.
England will now play Mexico in the firecracker atmosphere of the Azteca stadium. What a game that’s going to be.
7 min read
Last 32: England forced to dig deep against DR Congo
Thomas Tu-one
England 2 - 1 DR Congo
Kane (75', 86') | Cipenga (7')
England were 15 minutes away from exiting the World Cup, and had to dig deep and rely on their talismanic striker Harry Kane to save them and get past DR Congo in an encounter full of nervous energy after an early goal from DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga.
DR Congo’s goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi, also made a series of high-quality saves that made you question whether this was truly going to be England’s night, or whether it was going to result in the most dramatic early England exit for many years.
Coming into this game, much has been made of England’s strength in depth, or rather lack of it, in the right back position. DR Congo, it seems, had been acutely aware of those limitations and decided to play Brian Cipenga very high and wide on the left wing to attack that area on the counter.
Their goal exposed those problems perfectly, with Cipenga picking up a ball that sailed over the head of the adrift RB Djed Spence, before cutting inside and hitting a sweet strike to beat the outstretched Jordan Pickford.
After DR Congo then retreated into a low block, we started to see familiar scenes and nervous energy in the stadium as the predominantly England-supporting crowd were shown something all too familiar: an England in need of a goal facing a side that refuses to be broken down.
England repeatedly tried to work the ball into wide areas and build passing triangles to work their way into the box, or to deliver a ball from the byline, and for much of the game it seemed like they were simply repeating the same old trick, over and over.
However, England had chances. After the first hydration break, they seemed to attack the game with more energy and forced a catalogue of saves from the DR Congo keeper, with Jude Bellingham twice testing him with headers.
Soon after, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, once called up for England in 2019, cleared one off the line for DR Congo.
Madueke and Spence on the right never truly convinced that they would be able to find the right key to unlocking the defence, often checking back inside and prioritising keeping possession instead of taking on a man or delivering a cross.
As frustration built, Tuchel made changes and brought on the direct threats of Saka on the right and Gordon on the left, which proved to be a masterstroke against the tiring defence.
With Declan Rice adapting to a makeshift RB position, which he excelled at, England began to push forwards in numbers and really attack the flanks.
The changes delivered, and Anthony Gordon twice turned provider for that man, Harry Kane, who surpassed the legendary Pele to move up to 13 World Cup goals. The first a cross from Gordon, saw Kane leap highest to head the ball in.
And the second, a through ball on the deck, saw Kane spin on the spot, turn his marker and lash the ball into the roof of the net for one of the finest finishes he’s managed at a major tournament. Pure attacking instinct.
England will now play Mexico in the firecracker atmosphere of the Azteca stadium. What a game that’s going to be.
7 min read