Kane rescue sends England into last-16 meeting with Mexico

England are through to the World Cup last 16 after Harry Kane scored twice to overturn a deficit against the Democratic Republic of Congo. Anthony Gordon came off the bench and provided both assists, setting up a meeting with Mexico in the next round.

The comeback mattered not only because of the result, but because of the timing. England had been behind with less than 15 minutes remaining, a scenario that put Thomas Tuchel’s side under intense scrutiny before their captain changed the direction of the tie.

Gordon later praised Kane’s standards and consistency, framing the captain as a model for the squad rather than simply the match-winner on the night. That reaction underlines how central Kane remains to England’s tournament identity, especially when the team is forced to solve problems late in games.

The scale of attention around the match was reflected in BBC figures cited in the source: the broadcast peaked at 16.3 million viewers across BBC One and iPlayer and averaged 14 million. England’s next test against Mexico will also bring questions about altitude, with a performance specialist cited by PA noting that reduced oxygen can increase fatigue and affect the flight of the ball.