England Edge Past DR Congo in World Cup Thriller: Player Ratings as Kane Rescues Three Lions

That was uncomfortably close. Let's not dwell on it too long before turning attention to Mexico, shall we?

Actually, no – we'd better have a proper look at what happened. Here's how England's players got on while flirting dangerously with World Cup elimination.

Jordan Pickford

The England number one had been receiving plenty of backing in these pages, so naturally he felt obliged to make a liar of everyone. When Brian Cipenga lined up his effort, Pickford's positioning proved his undoing. The goalkeeper shifted marginally too far to his left as the shot came in, leaving him unable to react swiftly enough with either foot. His right leg couldn't sweep across quickly, and his left lacked sufficient drive. It's an error, certainly, but the narrative about near-post vulnerability misses the point – his anticipation was simply off. Social media will howl for his head, naturally, which would be absurd. Pickford remains England's man.

Djed Spence

Spence bore the brunt of the blame for Congo's goal, though responsibility was hardly his alone. Chancel Mbemba's pass went inside him when the right-back should have closed faster and tighter to his centre-backs. Had he done so, the switch would've gone aerial, buying England time to reorganise. Instead, Spence found himself in a desperate two-versus-one scramble. He battled hard across both phases of play, but the sight of Tottenham's second-choice left-back operating as England's starting right-back speaks volumes about the squad's predicament.

Marc Guehi

As the senior defender, Guehi's struggles in a shaky back line don't inspire confidence. Tuchel had doubts about him early in the tournament, and this performance suggested why. The manager spoke of 'connections' in defence, yet these four still resemble complete strangers. Guehi and Konsa remain miles apart in understanding, most notably when Yoane Wissa drifted unmarked to strike the post in the first period.

Ezri Konsa

The sole centre-back to start all four games has somehow managed to look the shakiest. England's first-half malaise was encapsulated when Konsa nearly scored – or rather, when the ball struck him whilst he stood flatfooted during a dreadful set-piece routine. The real concern is his fundamental defending. Whether partnered with Guehi or John Stones, Konsa seems perpetually out of sync. Tuchel clearly rates him most, but the manager's patience is being tested.

Nico O'Reilly

O'Reilly's positioning when Mbemba assessed his options was problematic. England wanted that pass going wide, allowing everyone to shuffle across. Instead, his placement forced Konsa and Guehi too far left, exposing Spence catastrophically. When England grew desperate, O'Reilly drove forward regularly but proved little more than an occupant in the box.

Declan Rice

Rice's most effective moments came from right-back – a sentence nobody expected to write this summer. He pierced Congo's defence with a forward run during the build-up to the equaliser, but his midfield positioning remained muddled. Tuchel warned pre-match about maintaining structure during attacks to prevent the counter, yet Rice seemed genuinely unsure of his remit. Anderson had similar issues. Even his set-piece delivery, particularly free-kicks, disappointed. The lad needs rest desperately, but England cannot function without him.

Elliot Anderson

The story mirrors Rice's afternoon. Could Anderson have dropped deeper when England's line stretched thin? Perhaps. But he doesn't crack the top five culprits for Congo's opener. Paradoxically, stronger opposition might actually help both midfielders find their balance, as the defensive screening becomes more critical and the attacking burden less pressing.

Jude Bellingham

Until Kane got his chance, Bellingham was by far England's most likely saviour – a pattern throughout the tournament. The number ten lost his personal duel with Lionel Mpasi, who denied him with two free-header saves, but Bellingham's run and blocked shot bent Congo's defence sufficiently for Kane to turn and finish. Frustration got the better of him, though; he picked up a needless booking for a rash challenge following a poor break pass. England needed composure at that juncture, not a spiral.

Noni Madueke

Madueke at least showed variety, mixing inside runs with outside work. His best moments came when operating wide, particularly when he picked out Rashford on 35 minutes. Once his marker cottoned on that he wasn't purely an inside-cutting player, space opened up on his strong side. He delivered once – Bellingham's header was saved. That was it.

Marcus Rashford

Completely off the pace, as though his Barcelona custard pie has sapped the confidence he developed in Catalunya. Unlike Madueke, Rashford hasn't figured out that varying his approach confuses defenders. Even on his favoured left side, his crossing misfired repeatedly. He teed up Wan-Bissaka for England's best first-half opportunity, then drove his only second-half chance into the side netting. When you're determined to be a left winger, poor technique on your left foot represents a serious problem.

Harry Kane

Thank goodness for England's greatest goalscorer. This was largely another frustrating afternoon for Kane, particularly when a clear penalty went unconverted in the first half, until Gordon finally supplied something approaching quality service. His first finish was clinical predation; his second was pure class. England's hopes live to fight another day.

Substitutes

Anthony Gordon (replacing Rashford, 60th minute)

Seemingly lost the battle for the left wing, but returns having already supplied two assists in Atlanta. They weren't particularly creative – the second was straightforward, a short pass leaving Kane to do the heavy lifting – yet Gordon picked the right forward option around the corner rather than squaring it wide.

Bukayo Saka (replacing Madueke, 60th minute)

Tuchel's pre-match comment about Saka being a finisher today was diplomatic terminology for an increasingly troubling situation. The Arsenal winger is limping through this World Cup, hoping for scraps. An 89th-minute tap-in in the final would be nice, but without his usual quality and intensity on the right, England's chances of getting there diminish significantly.

Eberchi Eze (replacing Spence, 70th minute)

One of Eze's seven touches is memorable – a pass releasing Rice into the box during the equaliser's build-up. Everything else? Forgotten.

John Stones (replacing Rice, 93rd minute)

Collected his appearance bonus when Rice succumbed to cramp. Another starting opportunity likely awaits Sunday evening.