England’s greatest comeback victories

England’s dramatic round of 32 comeback victory against DR Congo at the FIFA World Cup 2026 got us thinking: what are the Three Lions' best comeback victories?

Captain Harry Kane was on hand in Atlanta to fire England into the last 16 with a brace after Brian Cipenga had given their African opponents an early lead.

It could go down as one of England’s greatest comeback victories, but what are some of the other notable fightbacks?

England 4-2 Germany (FIFA World Cup 1966)

The most defining victory in Three Lions’ history, but Alf Ramsey’s side had to work for it!

England fell behind in the 1966 World Cup Final at Wembley when Helmut Haller put West Germany ahead after just 12 minutes, but Geoff Hurst levelled the score six minutes later with a glancing header.

Martin Peters struck with 12 minutes of normal time to play as England closed in on glory, only for Wolfgang Weber to equalise in the 89th minute to take the game to extra time.

Hurst put England back in front when his close-range effort smashed the underside of the bar and bounced over the line.

And just when they thought it was all over…Hurst drove into the box and struck an effort into the near top corner to wrap up his iconic hat-trick as England became World Cup winners for the first time.

England 3-2 Cameroon (FIFA World Cup 1990)

“At one time I thought we were on the plane home.”

Those were the thoughts of England manager Bobby Robson, after watching his side battle from 2-1 down to reach the semi-finals.

England went ahead when David Platt - who scored a 119th-minute winner in the previous game against Belgium to send the Three Lions into the quarter-finals - opened the scoring after 25 minutes.

But Cameroon replied with a quickfire double just after the hour mark, as Emmanuel Kundé scored from the spot before Eugène Ekéké put the African side ahead four minutes later.

However, Gary Lineker was at the double to rescue England with two penalties. His first came in the 83rd minute to take the game to extra-time, before he converted from 12 yards after 105 minutes to earn England a memorable victory.

England 2-1 Slovakia (UEFA EURO 2024)

Two special moments, delivered by two special players.

Gareth Southgate’s England side were moments away from crashing out of the 2024 European Championships in the last 16, following Ivan Schranz’s first-half opener.

In a last-ditch attempt to keep their EURO hopes alive, England launched a long throw into the box, which Marc Guéhi glanced on for Jude Bellingham to execute an acrobatic effort for a 95th-minute equaliser.

The momentum was with the Three Lions as the teams headed for extra-time, and it only took one minute for Kane to pop up in the box and head England into the lead.

Southgate’s side held on to advance, before they had to come from behind again in both the quarter-final against Switzerland and the semi-final against the Netherlands to reach the final in Berlin.

England 2-1 Netherlands (UEFA EURO 2024)

Bukayo Saka’s late goal salvaged a draw for England in the quarter-final, which helped them to overcome Switzerland on penalties and advance to the semi-final.

In Dortmund, they fell behind again when Xavi Simons broke the deadlock after just seven minutes.

But England weren't behind for long as Kane quickly levelled the score when he converted a penalty in the 18th minute, but it was not another comeback victory without drama.

As the game looked to be heading for an extra 30 minutes, Ollie Watkins expertly slotted the Three Lions into the lead in the 90th minute to book their spot in a second successive European final.

England 2-1 DR Congo (FIFA World Cup 2026)

Kane became the joint-sixth highest World Cup goalscorer of all time with what could be one of the most important braces of his career.

Cipenga’s goal stunned the England fans inside the Atlanta Stadium and the millions watching back at home as he fired past Jordan Pickford in the seventh minute.

It almost got worse for Thomas Tuchel’s side when Yoane Wissa hit the post and missed from a few yards out, but that only spurred the Three Lions on to hit back.

England had been chipping away at Lionel Mpasi-Nzau’s goal all game, and forced the DR Congo goalkeeper into some fantastic saves, but he couldn't keep Kane at bay all night.

Substitute Anthony Gordon delivered a cross from the left for Kane to head home in a moment of relief for England, who were 15 minutes away from heading home.

Kane has had some memorable moments in an England shirt, but his winning goal against DR Congo will be right up there, as a neat pass into the box from Gordon saw take the ball across the area before firing it into the top corner to put England ahead in the 85th minute.