Matt Maher: Inevitability of Harry Kane keeps England dreaming

You just knew Roger Federer was going to nail that forehand when it mattered most, in the same way you knew Tom Brady was going to throw that last-second touchdown pass.

That is the rarefied air to which Harry Kane is now ascending, if indeed he is not already there.

At the very least, we can comfortably label him England’s Mr Inevitable. Sooner or later, you know he is going to have his say, just as he did on Wednesday evening to save the Three Lions from an embarrassing World Cup exit.

Kane’s two goals against DR Congo were coming from the moment Yoane Wissa hit the post from three yards out just under an hour earlier.

Wissa is a good striker but nowhere near the level of Kane. Few are, or ever have been.

The 32-year-old’s latest heroics prompted a debate on just where he now stands on the list of England’s greatest-ever players.

It’s a discussion with no correct answer but by now we can surely say they have never had a better frontman, both in longevity and production alone.

Kane is on course to finish his England career with more than twice as many goals as the next highest scorer. Sure, the opponents might not always have been stellar but this week again proved he is the man for the big moment, both the reason why England are still in the tournament and why, for all their deficiencies elsewhere, they can still dream of glory.

The trouble is other teams have their own Mr Inevitables, the likes of Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, with seemingly stronger supporting casts.

Is England’s defence sturdy enough to keep Kane’s goals relevant?

Mexico in Mexico City early on Monday morning will represent a serious step up. Victory would likely bring a quarter-final against Brazil, with Argentina probably awaiting the winners.

If England even reach the final, it may represent a greater achievement than actually winning the whole thing 60 years ago.

Right now, it feels a long shot yet, with Kane in your team, there’s always a chance.