Europe roars back to stop African charge

Captain Harry Kane led by example, scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes, including an incredible no-look rocket, to secure a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. (EPA Images pic)

PETALING JAYA: An early goal by DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga looked ominous for England and seemed set to maintain Africa’s dominance and Europe’s decline. But England’s talisman Harry Kane pulled off a sensational rescue act with two late goals to keep the Three Lions purring.

Then Belgium, after digging itself into a deeper hole, surpassed that with two even later strikes against Senegal. And after drawing level, they converted a controversial penalty in extra time to break Senegalese hearts.

Here are six things we learned from another night of incredible drama.

1. Kane saves England from catastrophe 

England’s football catastrophes have come in all shapes and sizes, against countries from all over the world – and this teetered on the brink of being another.

They were thrashed by Hungary in the 1950s; lost embarrassingly to the United States and Iceland; agonisingly to Germany on penalties. But they have never lost a World Cup match to an African country – and still haven’t.

The 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo was the narrowest of escapes.

For 76 minutes, the Round of 32 match in Atlanta had all the hallmarks of a major England disaster. They were ragged, dysfunctional, lost. Still clueless about how to beat a low block, reporters admit to discussing if it was a new all-time low.

They conceded an early goal from a well-advertised source – weakness at right back. Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi was having the game of his life. The ball was refusing to go in. There were clearances off the line. A penalty shout was denied (correctly).

But out of nowhere, captain Harry Kane rewrote the script. First a trademark header and then an absolute no-look rocket into the roof of the net. Cue disbelief and then delirium among England fans. They survived to face Mexico in the Round of 16.

DR Congo’s Brian Cipenga was a livewire in the first half, capping his performance with an early goal on seven minutes that stunned England’s large following. (EPA Images pic)

2. Tuchel and his team dodged more than bullets

The headlines were being drawn up, the obituaries were being written. Thomas Tuchel and his highly rated and highly paid players were about to be slaughtered. By their own fans who had spent their savings on supporting them. And by a media pack just sharpening their swords for carnage.

It would be a merciless homecoming. After all the hype of their multi-millionaire squad, their highly-rated manager, flawless qualification and meticulous preparation… they were in for a rude awakening.

And after the fortunes spent by thousands of fans, to lose to a country afflicted by the Ebola virus, whose players had not been able to return home, and whose last appearance ended in a 14-0 aggregate score 52 years ago, this was going to be a new low. England’s players, manager, fans and whole nation will forever be in their captain’s debt.

3. Kane finally joins the superstars

Kane’s two goals took him to five for the tournament and level with Erling Haaland in third place in the race for the Golden Boot.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe lead on six apiece. Only five players in World Cup history have scored more: Messi (19), Mbappé (18), Miroslav Klose (16), Ronaldo (15) and Gerd Múller (14).

Surely now he will be recognised as one of the game’s great strikers and as a 24-carat superstar.

The 32-year-old is England’s leading scorer with 84 goals in 118 games, yet silverware eluded him until he joined Bayern Munich. Manchester United even preferred to sign Rasmus Hojland (yes, really!) to Kane when he wanted to leave his first club, Tottenham.

He would have cost more, but he seems to be getting even better with age. His 61 goals for the German champions has ensured the silverware is now rolling in. After this ultimate rescue act for his country, the accolades surely will, too.

4. Late wins don’t change shift in balance of power 

England, the founders of the game and the world’s fourth-ranked nation, were among the favourites for this World Cup. But they struggled to beat a 65th-ranked country.

Ditto Belgium, recently No.1 in the world, came even closer to losing to Senegal. For almost the whole of normal time in both games, it looked as if another shock was coming.

It has already been a World Cup that has the Richter Scale almost coming off its axis. Cape Verde holding Spain. Morocco beating the Netherlands. Paraguay beating Germany.

Habib Diarra (centre) opened the scoring in the 24th minute as Senegal threatened to send Belgium’s golden generation home yet again. (EPA Images pic)

So many shocks can mean only one thing: the tectonic plates of world football are undergoing a significant shift. Nine out of ten African nations made it through to the last 32 as traditional European powerhouses — Germany, Netherlands — head home.

England and Belgium came perilously close to joining them but found something.

The plates have moved back a bit, but the world game is undergoing a fundamental shift in the balance of power. In 1966, Africa boycotted the World Cup in disgust at having to battle for one place with Asia and Oceania.

It did not fulfil Pele’s prediction that an African nation would win the trophy by 2000. But its performance here suggests that date has merely been postponed.

5. What England can do, Belgium do better

Throughout their mediocre displays in the group phase, the narrative about Belgium was that the Golden Generation had lost its lustre. Even the great Kevin De Bruyne was no longer the shining star he was at Manchester City. Romelu Lukaku no longer even starts. Others have retired.

And it was no surprise when Senegal stormed into a 2-0 lead in their Round of 32 tie. Belgium looked ragged. Players were arguing among themselves. No one could see where even a consolation goal was coming from, let alone an equaliser.

Romelu Lukaku came off the bench to launch Belgium’s late comeback with a goal in the 86th minute in a 3-2 extratime win over Senegal. (EPA Images pic)

But when Lukaku made his customary late and lumbering entrance, his physical presence changed the vibe. And a delicate flick four minutes from time gave them hope. Then Youri Tielemans headed into an empty net and the most unlikely comeback was on.

As players and fans began to lose their heads in the tension, the Aston Villa midfielder kept his and coolly slotted home a VAR-awarded penalty into the top corner.

It was more heartbreak for the West Africans after their African Cup of Nations debacle with Morocco. And it was a tough call. VAR is better in this tournament, but it’s still a killjoy. Many more obvious penalties have been denied so it still doesn’t justify its existence.

It’s no way for a country to be kicked out of a World Cup.

Youri Tielemans celebrates after scoring Belgium’s winning goal from the penalty spot at the death to break Senegal’s hearts. (EPA Images pic)

6. Balogun: hero to villain and maybe back?

Folarin Balogun is the latest World Cup player to turn from hero to villain inside an hour.

The United States striker’s experience was very different to Germany’s Jonathan Tah, but it was one he won’t forget in a hurry, either in an eventful day that may not be over.

After having a ‘goal’ controversially disallowed, the Monaco man repeated the trick with a clinical finish to give the Americans the lead on the stroke of halftime. He then reprised the LeBron James “Silencer” celebration, which the basketball legend approved.

But then, in what looked like an accidental coming together, he landed awkwardly on Tarik Muharemovic. No foul was given and no cards awarded. As the players picked themselves up, VAR intervened and, after looking at the screen, referee Raphael Claus was persuaded to send Balogun off.

This means he will miss the next match unless common sense prevails and the card is rescinded.

Balogun is just the fourth player in World Cup history to score and receive a red card in the same knockout match. He’s in illustrious company, the other three being Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho and Garrincha.

The Americans, however, made light of the handicap with a second goal by Malik Tillman.