Atlanta, July 2 -- England captain Harry Kane credited the relentless behind-the-scenes standards set by football greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after producing another decisive World Cup display, saying the countless hours spent on recovery, training and preparation helped him deliver when his country needed him most in the 2-1 comeback win over Congo DR in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 on Wednesday (local time).

Kane, who scored twice in the second half to rescue England from the brink of a shock exit, said maintaining elite performance over a long period requires commitment away from the spotlight.

"That's why you do all the work behind the scenes. The things that you guys don't see when we are in training, when we a...