England captain Harry Kane paid a heartfelt tribute to his children after scoring a late double to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup round of 32 in Atlanta. The win sent England through to a last-16 clash with Mexico in Mexico City.
Kane's Heroics Save England
Kane, 32, overturned a shock 1-0 deficit with two goals in the closing stages, sparing England from a humiliating early exit. After the match, he was seen sharing a kiss with his wife, Katie Goodland, in the stands as players celebrated with their families. The couple have four children: Ivy Jane, 9, Vivienne, 7, Louis, 5, and two-year-old Henry.
On social media, Kane posted a picture of his daughters wearing matching red and white outfits with the number 9, while Louis sported an England kit with 'daddy' on the back. 'Three of my biggest supporters,' Kane wrote, accompanied by red heart and England flag emojis.
Proud of Team's Belief
Speaking to the press, the former Tottenham striker expressed pride in his teammates. 'We spoke before the game about how difficult this game would be,' he said. 'You're coming up against a good team who defend and watch really well. They were dangerous on the counter attack. We had to grind a win out, and I thought we played some really good stuff after 25 minutes.'
He added: 'Their keeper made some incredible saves, and you start to think maybe it's just one of those days. But that's where I'm most proud of the boys and myself, to keep the belief. One of us will have our hero moment, and thankfully for me it was today.'
Inspiring Young Fans
The 5pm local kick-off time allowed many young fans in England to watch their first match of the tournament. Kane, remembering his own childhood, said: 'I remember being a kid and watching England growing up, and dreaming of being here one day. I try not to forget that when I'm walking out onto the pitch. An early kick-off back home, so I hope they're still celebrating.'
He added: 'I try to be the best version of myself. Leading by example is one of my biggest traits. Whenever I'm on that pitch, I just try to do my best for the country.'
Team Unity and Celebration
After the match, Kane gathered his teammates in a huddle and led them in singing Oasis's 'Wonderwall' with England supporters. He told the BBC: 'I told the boys to enjoy the win. Sometimes as an England player, when you go through tough games like this, you don't always celebrate how you should. We're the same as every other nation, we're through, so enjoy it. We're in a World Cup, fighting for it all. I want the boys to enjoy it with the fans, and then we go again in four days.'
