Tuchel and Kane Praise Congolese Goalkeeper

England advances to World Cup 2026 Round of 16 as Harry Kane shines, while DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi impresses with his saves. Tuchel and Kane commend Mpasi's performance post-match.

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Thomas Tuchel has guided England into the Round of 16 at the World Cup 2026, largely thanks to the efforts of Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich striker scored his fourth and fifth goals of the tournament during England's victory over DR Congo. Both the head coach and team captain were notably impressed by the Congolese goalkeeper, Lionel Mpasi. Despite being the second-choice goalkeeper for Le Havre this season, Mpasi showcased his talent and is likely to become a first-choice goalkeeper soon. At 31, he recorded nine saves against Colombia in the group stage and added five more impressive saves against England, including two acrobatic stops to deny Jude Bellingham. Tuchel remarked after the match, "That guy was incredible. The saves he made were fantastic. We had the worst possible start as their first shot went straight in, making the game harder for us. After the hydration break, we regained control and should have been awarded a penalty," referring to a first-half incident involving Mpasi and Kane. Tuchel opted to keep Saka and Gordon on the bench, making strategic substitutions in the second half that shifted the game's momentum. "The substitutes came on and changed the match. It was deserved, but we had to work hard. We stayed patient and kept believing. That mindset is crucial," he added. Kane also expressed his admiration for Mpasi. "This was a crazy game. DR Congo is a tough opponent, and their keeper made some unbelievable saves. We've talked about players becoming heroes in a World Cup. It can be any player, but today, it was me," Kane told the BBC. "There are still areas we need to improve on, but in the knockout stage, it's all about progressing. We pulled off a win today, and now I want to enjoy this with the fans before we go again in four days." England's next match is scheduled for Saturday, July 5th, against Mexico.