England captain Harry Kane's late first-half tumble in the box against DR Congo sparked a significant debate on whether a penalty should have been awarded. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi's challenge on Kane as the striker rounded him was deemed insufficient by referee Adham Makhadmeh, who signaled a dive. VAR upheld the on-field decision, leaving England trailing.

Despite the controversy, Kane ultimately secured a 2-1 victory for England with two late goals, booking a spot in the next round. Pundits were divided: former assistant referee Darren Cann and ex-players like Joe Hart and Micah Richards believed it was a penalty. However, Wayne Rooney felt Kane initiated contact and perhaps dived, while Steph Houghton questioned VAR's failure to intervene.

The incident, occurring while England trailed after Brian Cipenga's early goal, became a talking point. Had a penalty been given, it could have leveled the score before halftime. Ultimately, Kane's match-winning performance overshadowed the disallowed spot-kick, but the debate over the referee's call will likely persist.