England v Congo DR · OurXI

★ The storyline

England march on

England are through. They saw off Congo DR 2–1 in the round of 32, and a family that's followed them all summer dares to look a little further up the bracket. On to the next one.

WildcardDeveloping

Congo DR bow out

And there it ends. Congo DR fall to England 2–1 in the round of 32, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

WildcardDeveloping

Congo DR bow out

And there it ends. Congo DR fall to England, and a summer of following them is over. It stings now — but what a ride it was, and there's no shame in going out swinging.

TalismanDeveloping

Kane's Late Show Lifts England Past Congo DR in Knockout Shock

England's World Cup dream hit a brief snag when underdogs Congo DR stunned the Three Lions with an early goal in their first-ever knockout fixture. But under Thomas Tuchel's watch, this squad has the resilience to fight back. Harry Kane's two-goal blitz in the closing quarter turned the game on its head, steering England through 2-1 and setting up a mouth-watering last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico—a stern test of their credentials in the tournament's real business.

Harry KaneBrian CipengaJordan PickfordLionel Mpasi

Source: Sky Sports — via web search

Why it matters

Ours are out — England in the round of 32. Win or go home.

Who to watch

★ Ours · Talisman

Harry Kane

England

The captain and focal point England lean on whenever the stakes climb.

Talisman

Yoane Wissa

Congo DR

The attacking spark this defence-first side will lean on for moments of quality.

Developing

England are through to the last 32

England are into the last 32. Job done in the group, and now the tournament really begins — one-and-done from here, every match a final.

Developing

Congo DR are through to the last 32

Congo DR have squeezed through as one of the best third-placed sides. Not the comfortable route — but a place in the last 32 is a place in the last 32, and the knockouts don't care how you got there.

Developing

England: the whole run, the whole way

From the group stage to the last kick of the summer — England went the whole way. A family that followed every minute of it now owns the best ending football can write. World champions.

Developing

England are world champions

Read it again slowly: England have won the World Cup. They beat France 6–4 in the final, and everything this family shouted at a screen all summer just turned into the story you'll be telling for the rest of your lives. Champions of the world.