England’s World Cup hopes cannot rest on Kane alone

England's World Cup journey is increasingly dependent on captain Harry Kane, whose scoring, playmaking, and clutch performances have repeatedly saved a team still struggling for cohesion and confidence. Kane was again pivotal in their hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32 on Wednesday.

However, England's reliance on their star player prompts a significant question as the knockout stage progresses: how far can this team advance if Kane is the only player consistently capable of converting pressure into tangible results? Once more at the World Cup, England found salvation through their record goalscorer.

With the Democratic Republic of Congo threatening one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Kane pulled his team back from the brink. He scored two goals within an 11-minute span, the second a moment of brilliant individual skill. While the performance drew praise, it also underscored a persistent concern.

The FIFA World Cup matches are available live and free-to-air on FBC Sports. The team's dependence on Kane highlights a tactical vulnerability that could prove costly in later stages of the tournament.