Hart tears into Pickford after blunder gifts DR Congo shock World Cup lead

Joe Hart pulled no punches during BBC One's half-time coverage as he laid into Jordan Pickford for the mistake that left England trailing against DR Congo in their World Cup clash. The former Three Lions stopper broke down the incident frame by frame, arguing that a fundamental technical error cost his old side dearly on the biggest stage.

Analysing the goal, Hart highlighted a split-second imbalance in Pickford's stance. He noted that the Everton goalkeeper's body weight was already shifting to the left as the DR Congo attacker shaped to shoot. That left him unable to generate the explosive drive needed to shift across his goal line and make a meaningful save. Hart described how Pickford's weight distribution meant he had to drag his right leg out from under him and push off his left, but by then the moment had gone.

When the shot came, Pickford did manage to get a hand to the ball but the contact was feeble. Hart was scathing about the lack of power behind the touch, explaining that the goalkeeper's hand was simply whipped away by the force of the strike. The pundit made it clear that in his view a better prepared goalkeeper would have kept that effort out. The criticism carried extra weight given Hart's own status as a former England number one who spent years competing with Pickford for the shirt.

England now face a daunting second half not just against a fired-up African side but also against their own history. The Three Lions have never won a World Cup match after trailing at the interval. In nine previous matches where they went in behind at half time they managed only two draws and suffered seven defeats. That record puts Thomas Tuchel's side under enormous pressure to overturn a deficit they have never previously managed to recover from in World Cup football.

The shock lead for DR Congo has sent a jolt through the tournament. A nation not traditionally considered among the global elite suddenly find themselves on the brink of a famous victory. For England the stakes could not be higher. Tuchel will have to rally his players and find a way to break down a stubborn defence that has already shown it can hurt them on the counter. With their campaign hanging in the balance the second half promises to be an anxious watch for English supporters.

Hart's analysis may sting inside the England camp but it also serves as a reminder that at this level fine margins decide games. One small shift of body weight can be the difference between a routine save and a goal that makes headlines for all the wrong reasons. Pickford will be desperate to redeem himself if the opportunity arises but he now has to carry the weight of that error into the remainder of the match.