England's World Cup week review: Panama test passed as Kane saves blushes against D.R. Congo

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] never make things easy, do they? It almost wouldn't feel right if England had cruised past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/panama/OWKqbCfi/"]Panama[/a] in their final group game and then [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]D.R. Congo[/a] in the round of 32. That's what [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] do, not England - it's just not their style. [/p][p]However, patience was the order of the day in both of Tuchel's sides' games this week, and ultimately it was their patience and calmness under pressure and on the brink of humiliation that won out.[/p][p]It wasn't convincing and it won't fill supporters with much confidence heading into an epic clash at the Azteca against co-hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a]. But unlike their rivals, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]Netherlands[/a], England are still alive at the 2026 World Cup and as long as there is hope, a nation can still 'dare to dream' of ending 60 years of hurt.[/p][p]Who in their right mind is going to tell them they can't? After all, what is the World Cup without big dreams?[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="04a795a1-1557-497c-950f-534f0ea7e09a" credit-line="StatsPerform via Opta" guid="5738c7fb-dd50-4009-b451-e9bf12f7d3c6" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][h2]England (just about) pass Panama test[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/panama-OWKqbCfi/?mid=YZajsXcn"]England's first match of the week came on Saturday night[/a] - prime time for a big performance. A win would ensure they finished as Group L winners, and with Panama losing their first two games, there were no excuses for any other outcome. It was never going to be easy, though, and Panama did everything in their power to frustrate England and force Tuchel's men to break them down.[/p][p]England were largely dominant, but Panama looked more dangerous on the counter than England did with all their possession. [/p][p]At some point, you have to up the tempo and penetrate the opposition, but it felt increasingly as if the Three Lions would need a moment of individual quality to find the all-important goal. And that is exactly what happened. It was to be [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bellingham-jude/QNvlPm7s/"]Jude Bellingham[/a]'s day as the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/real-madrid/W8mj7MDD/"]Real Madrid[/a] star put England ahead with an instinctive finish from a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saka-bukayo/08NLEo06/"]Bukayo Saka[/a] corner. [/p][p]England's number 10 would play a critical role in the second goal after some quick feet out on the left wing before whipping in a teasing cross for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kane-harry/v5HSlEAa/"]Kane[/a] to emphatically bury. It was far from convincing again, but it was a familiar tale of England's talismanic stars getting the job done.[/p][p]Questions about the rest of Tuchel's attack would dominate the conversation ahead of the D.R Congo game, however. What was even more concerning was that England still didn't look like a collective unit with any chemistry or mutual understanding.[/p][p]It all felt too messy and not knowing your best starting XI heading into the knockout stage of a World Cup is also a red flag.[/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /][h2]Kane rescues England in hour of need[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/d-r-congo-phn9mm8H/england-j9N9ZNFA/?mid=nkoQVAgB"]Heading into their last-32 clash[/a] against D.R. Congo, England needed to respond and deliver the type of statement performance that France produced against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sweden/OQyqbHWB/"]Sweden[/a] the night before. [/p][p]It quickly became obvious that wasn't going to happen. And when D.R. Congo took a shock lead in just the seventh minute through tricky winger [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cipenga-brian/KQL5Shet/"]Brian Cipenga[/a], it became obvious this was going to be anything but routine.[/p][p]D.R. Congo didn't fear England but England feared themselves, and up until the first hydration break, Tuchel's side were a calamitous, disorganised, nervous wreck. They were folding on the world stage in front of millions, and the embarrassment of heading home was starting to feel like a real possibility.[/p][p]For all the calls for calm from Tuchel and talking a good game, it was now time to deliver or go home with their tails between their legs, having let down a nation expecting so much more.[/p][p]A strong end to the first half gave some hope at last and on another day, Bellingham would have found the top corner with his header after a teasing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rice-declan/zkQ8Cm6n/"]Declan Rice[/a] cross near the end of the first 45 minutes.[/p][p]Chances dried up at the start of the second half and it came as no surprise when Tuchel pulled the trigger, replacing his two wide men with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gordon-anthony/EFo95m2P/"]Anthony Gordon[/a] and Saka. Something had to give.[/p][p]And in the 75th minute, it did at last. A loose ball fell to substitute Gordon on the left wing and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/barcelona/SKbpVP5K/"]Barcelona[/a] man dinked a teasing first-time cross for Kane to attack and England's captain did so with aplomb to head England level and restore some calm. The increasing sense that this might not be England's day was halted for a moment.[/p][image alt="Kane goal sequence" id="8fea56da-c317-4bc1-b731-ec9e120b7d89" credit-line="Reuters / StatsPerform via Opta" guid="9ae623d8-118a-4cad-9827-14029a43d0b3" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Tuchel's subs had changed the direction of the game and with Rice now at right-back, England looked like a much better team. So when Kane emphatically found the top corner with a rocket from the edge of the box in the 86th minute, it felt like a deserved winning goal. [/p][p]If the equaliser was celebrated with a sense of relief by Tuchel's side, then Kane's sensational winner was followed by pure joy from everyone of an England persuasion. The bigger picture and questions over England's vulnerabilities could be put to one side for now, at least. This was a moment to celebrate England's inevitable man: Harry Kane.[/p][h2]What was said after D.R Congo clash?[/h2][p]After the game, the message from Tuchel and his players hit a familiar tone: calm and with a strong belief that England will grow into this World Cup. Tuchel's belief in his players was evident when he praised his side's reaction against D.R. Congo.[/p][p][b]"The reaction and belief is one of a kind and they were ready to do whatever was necessary to do and we found a way to win. [/b][/p][p]"Well deserved by the way, well deserved."[/p][p]And when the German was asked about the positive impact of his substitutes against D.R. Congo, he used it as an opportunity to repeat a familiar message about the squad harmony and belief.[/p][p][b]"Like I said the whole tournament, the energy and the team spirit is on the highest level and I think everyone fully understands which part of the tournament we are in at the moment. Even the players who are not getting onto the pitch, they keep pushing. [/b][/p][p]"You see their faces, and they are positive. Everyone feels comfortable when he plays, and everyone feels comfortable when selected to finish the match.[/p][p][b]"I see a team that is fully committed and full of belief."[/b][/p][embed guid="03360b0a-2d38-414a-bcd1-01b7a4323e2b" url="https://x.com/England/status/2072629102209868093" social-type="twitter" /][p]Super-sub Gordon gave a similar message after the game, [b]"We've been talking about our togetherness in every interview we've had and that (today) shows it. We knew from the start that we could face any adversity coming our way and that just proves it."[/b][/p][p]Gordon's level-headed attitude and honesty about England's need to start better against Mexico is a positive reflection on his character. He might not be the most technically gifted of England's attackers, but he has really bought into what Tuchel is trying to do.[/p][p]His positive attitude and team-first approach could prove vital for England if used as a 'finisher' from here on out. [/p][h2]Analysis - England must learn from D.R Congo scare[/h2][p]When Tuchel saw his England side 15 minutes away from an embarrassing exit, he must have been starting to wonder which players he can and can't trust to perform for him. The final minutes gave him some vital answers on which players can step up in the face of adversity and be counted on.[/p][p]Now he must find a way to set England up against Mexico so that they don't look vulnerable every time they lose possession, whilst also finding a purpose and tempo in their attacking play from minute one. [/p][p]The time for nerves at the start and surviving the first hour has to be over, or England will head home against an inferior side and be forever left with a sense of what if. The time is now to kick into gear from minute one, striking a better balance out of possession and taking the game to the opposition on the ball.[/p][p]Tuchel needs more fearlessness from his wide players to take on their man and create chances. He needs the squad he picked, believes in and speaks so glowingly about to step up and deliver, or Mexico will punish England where D.R Congo couldn't.[/p][p]It will be intense and the atmosphere will be deafening, but it is in such conditions that the best players thrive.[/p][p]When the world is watching, will England cave in or finally remind the world of what they can do in major tournaments?[/p][p]Over to you, Tuchel.[/p][infobox id="938dea4e-717b-43a6-9d12-646fc87ad9a9" /]