England player called out for ‘giving up’ in the game against DR Congo
One England player was called out for “giving up” in the second half while DR Congo was leading in their World Cup match. After a tense 90 minutes, England managed to secure their spot in the World Cup round of 16 with a 2-1 win over DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium in Georgia.
Even though DR Congo were big underdogs, they took an early lead when forward Brian Cipenga scored just seven minutes into the game. England struggled to find their rhythm for much of the match but pulled through thanks to some amazing play from captain Harry Kane, who scored two goals in the 75th and 86th minutes to secure the win.
After the game, fans have been talking about who should play in England’s next match against Mexico at the famous Estadio Azteca on Monday morning (July 6). Some think Tottenham defender Djed Spence, who filled in for injured players Reece James and Jarell Quansah, should sit out, with Declan Rice starting at right-back instead.
But Stuart Pearce thinks a different player should be left out: one of Rice’s Arsenal teammates. He was disappointed with Madueke’s performance after he was taken off just past the hour mark. “He was great in the first half, but in the second half, I think he took the easy way out, got tired, and gave up,” Pearce said on World Cup GameDay live.
Madueke was replaced by Bukayo Saka, another Arsenal player, while Marcus Rashford was swapped for Anthony Gordon. Luckily, the changes worked well—Saka impressed, and Gordon teamed up with Kane to assist on both goals. “Harry Kane is the shining light,” Pearce added. “We really rely on him. What a captain.”
Tuchel, England’s manager, also praised Kane after the match. “That’s what we expect from him. I think that’s what he expects from himself. In tough, close games like this, Harry is here to decide them. Top level.”
When asked about England’s overall performance, Tuchel said: “It’s not always easy. You hope for an early goal and then things go smoothly, but that’s not how it works. We had to face challenges because they scored early. After the first break, we had several big chances, maybe even a penalty. The keeper made great saves, but the team stayed calm and kept believing.”
He added, “We kept pushing and finally found a way to win, which was well deserved. Sure, we want it to be easier, but coming back after being down 1-0 takes strength—especially in the last part of the game. These moments build real confidence. The team understands what it took today and is fully committed and ready for what’s next.”