SOCCER: Thomas Tuchel proud of England’s fight in comeback defeat of DR Congo

For England manager Thomas Tuchel, the tension of a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo national football team in the FIFA World Cup round of 32 on Wednesday was, in his view, the most valuable part of the night.

Harry Kane scored twice in the 75th and 86th minutes to push the England national football team into the round of 16, bringing his World Cup total to 12 and 13 career goals in the tournament. But despite the late surge, Tuchel said he left Atlanta most satisfied with his team’s mentality after a shaky start and the standout performance of DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

“Things stayed difficult, but this team today did not accept defeat as an outcome,” Tuchel said. “They just didn’t accept it, and that makes me very proud because they did what was necessary.”

“The going got tough, and they showed up, and we got a deserved win, even if it was a late one.”

Tuchel’s assessment reflects a trait often associated with championship-winning sides, but one that has not always defined England in recent decades as they continue their search for a first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

England’s history in such matches has been difficult when conceding first, but Wednesday’s comeback added another rare success to that record. The only other comparable turnaround remains the 4-2 extra-time win over West Germany in the 1966 final.

Despite the late pressure and mounting expectations, Tuchel insisted he did not see his squad affected by the weight of past failures.

“I did not see any of that today, and it would be so easy to see it,” he said. “It would be so easy to give in, and it would be so easy to accept that narrative. I didn’t see any of that, and that is a very, very good sign.”

England now advance to face Mexico national football team in the round of 16 in Mexico City on Sunday. The quick turnaround offers little time to adjust to the altitude of more than 7,000 feet, while Mexico arrive in strong form with a perfect record and a defense that has yet to concede a goal.

The matchup also brings historical weight, as the venue was the site of one of English football’s most infamous moments: the 1986 quarterfinal in which Diego Maradona scored the controversial “Hand of God” goal against England.

“More and more obstacles will maybe come, but we are ready for that,” Tuchel said. “We need it. Maybe we have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that.”

Harry Kane’s brace also lifted him into a share of third place in the tournament scoring charts alongside Erling Haaland, trailing only Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.

Tuchel noted the rare concentration of elite attacking form on display across the tournament, but said the common trait among the game’s biggest stars remains their decisiveness in key moments.

“They’re all sharks,” he said. “If they smell blood, they come and score.” -Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media/Reuters