Tuchel delights in ‘shark’ Kane’s predatory goal instinct after vital World Cup double

Thomas Tuchel described Harry Kane as a "shark" after the England captain's vital World Cup double kept the nation's hopes alive with a 2-1 comeback victory against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kane equalised in the 75th minute before scoring the winner with four minutes remaining, securing England's passage to a last-16 tie against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.

Tuchel praised Kane's predatory instinct after the match. The England manager said the striker's ability to "smell blood" placed him among the tournament's elite finishers, competing with Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot.

The DRC had opened the scoring early through Brian Cipenga in the seventh minute, leaving England facing potential elimination. However, Tuchel's tactical adjustments proved decisive. Anthony Gordon, introduced as a substitute for Marcus Rashford just after the hour mark, created both of Kane's crucial goals. Eberechi Eze's introduction saw Declan Rice shift to right-back, creating what Tuchel described as a "dangerous cross" from the inswing position.

Reflecting on his side's comeback, Tuchel said: "The message was always the same: Keep on knocking, knocking, knocking. Keep believing. Keep on doing what we do. Don't give in. That's what this team is about."

Kane now has five goals from four appearances, keeping pace with the tournament's leading scorers. England's next challenge brings fresh obstacles, however. The Azteca Stadium sits approximately 2,200 metres above sea level, presenting significant physical challenges. Tuchel acknowledged this difficulty, stating: "The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it. In four days it's just impossible."

Despite the concerns, Tuchel expressed confidence in his squad's ability to overcome the mounting obstacles. "We need it," he said. "Maybe we have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that."