England’s Old World Cup Curse Is Back After One Half Against DR Congo

It took Brian Cipenga seven minutes to do what almost no one expected. The DR Congo forward caught England sleeping on a set piece and hammered a shot past Jordan Pickford at the near post. Atlanta Stadium went quiet. Then it went loud, but not for the team in white.

The 35th-ranked team in the world was leading Thomas Tuchel’s side. And the way England responded over the next 38 minutes? It wasn’t exactly the kind of answer that makes you think this World Cup will end any differently than the last 13.

Here’s the stat that should worry every England fan who hasn’t already given up hope. Since lifting the trophy in 1966, the Three Lions have played 13 World Cup matches where they conceded first. They have not won a single one. Not one. That stretch includes draws and losses, but zero wins. When England gives up the first goal at a World Cup, it’s basically over before halftime.

They Had a Whole Half to Respond

And they didn’t do much. A few half-chances. Harry Kane dropping deep to try to get on the ball. Jude Bellingham running into three defenders and hoping for a foul that never came. The hydration break came and went, and England still looked like a team that had never practiced against a compact African defense that presses in waves.

Cipenga’s goal itself wasn’t some masterpiece. A corner kick flicked on at the near post, a bit of chaos in the box, and suddenly the ball was bouncing toward the back post where Cipenga had ghosted in behind Kyle Walker. Pickford maybe should have done better. The wall maybe should have been set differently. But at this point, England and defensive set-piece failures go together like tea and disappointment.

Tuchel didn’t make any changes before the half. That felt like a statement. Or maybe it was just stubbornness. Either way, the camera panned to him on the sideline and he looked like a guy who had just realized his carefully laid plans were already unraveling.

For DR Congo, this is the kind of moment that can define a tournament. They came in as underdogs, which is polite for “nobody thinks you belong here.” But they hit first. They have something to hold onto now. For England, it’s damage control before the locker room pep talk even starts.

The second half will tell us whether this England team has any fight in it. Or whether 60 years of hurt is about to become 61. Based on history, the smart money is on the latter.