'This win doesn't define us, but enjoy it like...', Gordon reveals Kane's message after Congo win
Atlanta, July 2
Anthony Gordon has revealed that Harry Kane urged his team-mates to enjoy the moment when he brought the England squad together for a post-match huddle after the 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Kane scored twice in the final 15 minutes as the Three Lions came from behind to reach the last 16, where they will face Mexico. For the first time in their history, England won a World Cup match after trailing at half-time. In nine previous instances where they were behind at the break, they had drawn twice and lost seven times.
In the immediate aftermath, Kane spoke to his teammates on the pitch before he moved closer to the fans to join in the singing and stressed that the difficulty of the win should not stop them from savouring the moment.
"He was saying that this win doesn't define us; it doesn't win us the tournament, but enjoy it like any other nation," Gordon as quoted by England Football. "Sometimes the bigger nations have a tendency not to celebrate properly because they want to go further and they have high expectations, but that shouldn't be the case. It's a win in the World Cup against a tough team and now we're in the round of 16," he added.
Gordon proved instrumental in England's turnaround, setting up both of Kane's goals after he was introduced from the bench in the 61st minute. However, rather than focus on himself, the 25-year-old was keen to highlight the contribution of his teammate, explaining how Kane's goalscoring prowess influenced his decision-making for both goals.
"It's all about H (Kane), isn't it?' he said. "Without him, I probably don't make those decisions. For the cross, I probably would have shot normally, but as soon as I touched it I could just seem him in there somewhere and I just thought put it in the area and he does the rest for both goals."
— IANS
Reader Comments
As an England fan living in Mumbai, I love this mentality. We've been criticized for being arrogant in the past, but Kane's words show real maturity. Coming back from a half-time deficit against a tough DR Congo side is no joke. Bring on Mexico! 🏴
Honestly, I'm impressed by Gordon's selflessness. In Indian sports culture, we have too many players taking credit for everything. Giving all the credit to Kane shows true team spirit. This is what we need in our cricket, hockey, and football teams! 🙌
Good win for England, but let's not get too excited. DR Congo was a tough opponent, but the real test will be against Mexico. I hope Kane's message about not getting carried away is followed by the team. We've seen too many teams celebrate early and then crash out.
As someone who grew up watching England disappoint, this feels different. The mentality shift under Kane is palpable. But I have to respectfully disagree with Gordon—this win does define something: it shows England can fight back under pressure. That's huge for Indian fans who love the underdog story. 🇮🇳❤️
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