adminHarry Kane admitted he used the half-time break to rally his England teammates with a message of calm and belief after they recovered from an early setback to defeat DR Congo 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup round-of-32 encounter.
While delighted with the comeback victory, the England captain also expressed his disappointment with the behaviour of several DR Congo players, describing their conduct as “disrespectful” and revealing that a remark from goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi during the interval left him furious.
England endured a nightmare start when Brian Cipenga stunned the Three Lions with a seventh-minute opener, leaving Thomas Tuchel’s side chasing the game. Their frustration grew just before the break when Kane appeared to be brought down inside the penalty area by Mpasi.
Referee Adham Makhadmeh dismissed England’s penalty appeals and instead booked Kane for simulation. A subsequent VAR review upheld the decision, sparking anger among England’s players and coaching staff.
The controversial incident divided opinion among football pundits. Former England striker insisted the challenge warranted a penalty, arguing there was clear contact between goalkeeper and striker. In contrast, believed Kane had initiated the contact himself and felt the referee had made the correct decision.
However, the biggest flashpoint came after the first half. Kane disclosed that as the players headed down the tunnel, Mpasi approached him and made a comment that crossed the line.
“The statement the goalkeeper made was unacceptable,” Kane explained after the match. “He doesn’t know me, and he’s never met me. For him to speak to me like that really annoyed me going into half-time. It wasn’t something anyone should say.”
Reports from within the England camp suggested Mpasi had accused Kane of attempting to deceive the referee in search of a penalty. The allegation reportedly angered the England captain, who has long prided himself on his professionalism and reputation for fair play.
Despite the tense exchange, Kane insisted there was no panic inside England’s dressing room. Instead, the players focused on remaining composed and trusting their quality to turn the game around.
“We stayed calm because we knew there was plenty of football left,” Kane said. “Conceding early wasn’t ideal, but we’ve faced difficult situations before. The manager reminded us to keep believing, continue creating chances and be more clinical when opportunities came.”
England’s patience paid off in the second half. Kane rose highest to head home the equaliser in the 75th minute before producing the decisive moment five minutes from time, firing home the winner to complete his brace and send England into the last 16, where they will face Mexico.
The two-goal performance also saw Kane surpass to become England’s highest-ever scorer at FIFA World Cup tournaments, adding another remarkable milestone to his international career.
Although pleased with the victory, Kane did not hide his frustration over DR Congo’s approach throughout the contest. While praising their pace and defensive organisation, he criticised several players, including Mpasi, for repeatedly attempting to waste time and influence the referee.
“There were a few of their players constantly surrounding the referee and trying to slow everything down,” Kane said. “When you’re trying to get back into a match, that makes things much harder. In my opinion, that kind of behaviour shows a lack of respect for both the game and your opponents. We stayed focused on ourselves, and thankfully our football did the talking.”
England head coach praised his team’s mentality, highlighting their ability to overcome both the scoreline and the emotional challenges of the match.
“I’m extremely proud of the players,” Tuchel said. “We had to deal with a difficult start, a controversial penalty decision and moments of unnecessary provocation. The important thing was that the team remained disciplined, stayed united and found the quality to win the match.”
DR Congo manager defended his side’s tactics, insisting they were simply doing everything possible to protect their advantage against one of the tournament favourites.
“When you face a team of England’s quality, you have to manage the game as best as you can,” Desabre explained. “I don’t believe our players crossed any line. We were trying to defend our lead and compete.”
Kane, however, disagreed with that assessment and maintained that England’s response on the pitch was the perfect answer.
“The result speaks for itself,” he said. “We found a way to win, scored twice and booked our place in the next round. That’s the best response we could have given.”
Attention now shifts to England’s knockout clash against Mexico, with confidence growing inside the camp after another resilient performance.
“We’ve got a fantastic group of players,” Kane said. “There’s quality throughout the squad, and nights like this build even more belief. Overcoming adversity together makes you stronger, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Reflecting one final time on his exchange with Mpasi, Kane made it clear he was leaving the controversy behind.
“He can say whatever he wants,” the England captain concluded. “At the end of the day, I’ve walked away with two goals, a victory and qualification to the next round. That’s all the answer I need.”
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