It is undeniable that England still has problems to solve. They have difficulty controlling the game and are still struggling to find a reliable right-back. But there is one thing they do not lack, which is a world-class striker capable of deciding the match: Harry Kane.
If it weren't for Kane, what would happen to the England team? Time and time again, the "Three Lions" are conceded goals by opponents in big matches. This is already the sixth consecutive knockout match in major tournaments where England conceded the opening goal. And time and time again, they find a hero named Harry Kane.
After EURO 2024, which was unforgettable due to a back injury, Kane returned to the image of a top striker. Of course, Kane is not the only one contributing to England's comeback against the DRC. Anthony Gordon made his mark with two assists after coming on as a substitute, Jude Bellingham brought abundant energy in midfield, and Declan Rice also impressed when he was moved to play right-back.
However, it was the powerful finish, sending the ball straight into the top corner of the goal, making goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi completely helpless, that was the moment to affirm Kane's different value. This is something that no other player in the England team can bring.
That is exactly what we expect from him, and also what Harry Kane expects from himself. In tense and tight matches, Harry Kane is always the one who decides the result. That is top class" - coach Thomas Tuchel said after the match.
The goal against the DRC was Kane's 13th goal in World Cup history, helping him surpass legend Pele in the rankings of the greatest scorers of the tournament.
In the 2026 World Cup top scorer race, Kane is also competing with top stars such as Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Vinicius Junior.
The double against DRC helped Kane increase his record to 5 goals at the 2026 World Cup, and also reach the milestone of 72 goals for the club and national team in the season.
It is worth mentioning that this is not Kane's familiar match model. Usually, he often goes deep to participate in building the playing style. But against the DRC, the 33-year-old striker almost "disappeared" for most of the time.
In the first 35 minutes, Kane only touched the ball five times. He launched his first shot after 34 minutes and only had two more shots before completing a double.
However, that is the quality of world-class strikers: they don't need to touch the ball much but still know how to make a difference. Haaland also often scores similarly, when he is almost "invisible" for most of the match but still appears at the right time to finish off the opponent.
The difference is that Haaland is at the peak of his career, while Kane still maintains that level at the age of 33. Despite the number of matches and huge volume of play in recent years, Kane still feels he is in his best state.
I feel like I am in the best state ever" - the England captain shared.
Harry Kane is not only a great striker, but also a symbol of a generation of English football. This striker has brought countless memorable moments to fans over the years.
