Harry Kane scored twice in 11 minutes to spare England's blushes as they came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the World Cup round of 16, prompting former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to label the striker 'the English Messi'.
Klopp's Bold Comparison
Speaking on Magenta TV, Klopp described the match as a 'perfect World Cup match' and heaped praise on Kane. 'I've truly never seen the kind of impact Harry Kane has. When Harry Kane isn't working, and that was the case for the first 30 minutes, then England isn't working either,' Klopp said. 'The moment he found his old form in the second half, he was practically unstoppable. Harry Kane is the English Messi.'
Klopp drew parallels between Kane's importance to England and Lionel Messi's impact on Argentina, adding: 'Wonderful football and a wonderful example of a perfect World Cup match. You have the clear underdog who surprised everyone with a courageous performance, with a daring display. Courageous, cheeky, it had everything. They scored the goal, defended superbly. And then, in the end, the clear favourite prevailed, thanks to a player who is almost indescribable.'
International Media Reaction
Despite the win, international media were far from convinced by England's performance. Spanish outlet El Mundo said: 'The striker demonstrated once again why he is their star player, the only one capable of maintaining the necessary composure to prevent Congo from making them look ridiculous, orchestrating an epic comeback in the final stages of the match.'
French publication L'Equipe drew comparisons with England's 'grotesque' exit to Iceland at Euro 2016, writing: 'The English fans felt a deep anxiety, which they had probably not felt for 10 years and the grotesque elimination conceded by the Three Lions against Iceland in the round of 16 of Euro 2016. The spectre of a similar fiasco loomed large in Atlanta.'
Australia's Fox Sports, reporting from a London pub, highlighted the influence of substitute Anthony Gordon, who assisted both of Kane's goals: 'With substitute Anthony Gordon proving lively, much to the surprise of the fans at the pub who had been slagging him off when he was introduced into the game early in the second half, the star striker delivered in style. The skipper had emerged as a Messiah in the nick of time, saving a nation from going into early mourning.'
Germany's Die Welt branded Kane 'King Kane' and wrote: 'Thanks to their star striker Harry Kane, Thomas Tuchel's team avoided an embarrassing defeat.'
