England's captain Harry Kane was at the center of a penalty controversy as the Three Lions edged DR Congo 2-1. The incident occurred when Kane fell in the box after contact with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. Referee Adham Makhadmeh waved away England's appeals, sparking a debate among pundits.

What happened?

Kane was played through on goal and knocked the ball past Mpasi, ending up on the ground. There was contact, but the referee gestured that Kane had dived. After a VAR check, the on-field decision was upheld.

Penalty or no penalty?

Former Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann believes it was a penalty, citing a small touch on Kane's ankle. However, former England striker Wayne Rooney thinks Kane tripped himself and jumped into the goalkeeper. Other pundits, including Joe Hart and Micah Richards, agree that it was a foul by Mpasi.

England's winning run

The win marks England's second consecutive victory, following their 4-2 win over Croatia on 2026-06-17. Their recent form stands at 2W-0D-2L, with a last-16 meeting against Mexico on Monday, 6 July. | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-17 | Croatia | 4-2 win |

Current context

As of 01 Jul 2026, England are on a 2-game winning run, with their next fixture against Spain scheduled for 2026-09-26. The team is currently without R. James due to injury. | Category | Detail | | --- | --- | | Last result | England 4-2 Croatia | | Recent form | 2W-0D-2L | | Next fixture | vs Spain (2026-09-26) | | Currently sidelined | R. James