Harry Kane 'feeling as good as ever' and quietly playing some of the best soccer in the World Cup

ATLANTA (AP) — Harry Kane delivered for England once again, not that any of his teammates doubted he would.

Even though England trailed for the opening 75 minutes of its Round of 32 match against Congo on Wednesday, Kane remained confident. While big names like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé have garnered most of the headlines, Kane has quietly been playing at the top of his game.

That was clear on Wednesday, as the 6-foot-2 forward came up big when England needed it most with a pair of late goals to solidify a 2-1 win and send England to the Round of 16 to face Mexico in Mexico City.

Kane said the key to playing at the highest level is bringing consistency to everyday training.

“That’s why you do all the work from behind the scenes, you know, the things that you guys don’t see when we’re training, when we’re at home doing recovery, doing ice baths, treatment, all the little details that make you be consistently at the highest level for as long as possible," Kane said. “Guys like Messi, they’re the pinnacle of that.”.

Congo gave England all it could handle, but substitute Anthony Gordon, who assisted both goals, never had a doubt.

“I never thought they were going to beat us. I knew we would win because I trust everyone on our pitch, and I know how hard we're working and training,” Gordon said after the game. “We play the way we train, and we play hard... I just tried to be direct, tried to make (Congo) more tired, and give the ball to ‘H.’”

Kane's goals were his fourth and fifth of the tournament, upping his total to 13 as England's all-time leading World Cup goal scorer. His teammates needed everything he had on Wednesday.

Gordon lifted a cross from the left, which Kane headed past Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi for England's first goal of the day. Just over 10 minutes later, Gordon found Kane a second time at the edge of the box, where he sent his shot into the top corner of the net.

Gordon started celebrating as soon as it left Kane's foot.

“As soon as he hit it, it was golden. I was already celebrating,” Gordon said. “Anyone can score a good goal, anyone at this level can put the ball in the top corner. It's the consistency that he does it every day training, every game, is phenomenal. He plays at such a high, high level.”

Sixteen years into his professional career, Kane is beaming with confidence as England looks ahead to a challenging match in the Round of 16.

“I'm feeling as good as I've ever felt, and ultimately, when I get onto the pitch, I know all the work I've done behind the scenes will make me ready for big moments, he said. “That's exactly what happened out there today.”

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates with teammate Elliot Anderson at the end of the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates after scoring his side's first goal next to his teammate Jude Bellingham (10) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates scoring their second goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring both goals in a World Cup Round of 32 soccer match against Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026 (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

England's Harry Kane (9) celebrates after the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between England and Congo in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and 17 states reached settlement agreements with three major egg producers this week to resolve allegations that the companies illegally colluded for years to raise prices, including when the cost soared to record highs last year.

The states and federal government accused Cal-Maine Foods, Versova and Hickman’s Egg Ranch of a behind-the-scenes arrangement to “artificially inflate the daily price quotations for eggs" between June 2022 and March 2025. In particular, their investigation found that the companies coordinated on what bids they would submit to Urner Barry Publications, a company that runs an index key to determining how much grocery stores, restaurants and others pay for billions of eggs each year.

In turn, that meant “higher prices for eggs sold to consumers,” alleged the complaint, which was filed in Iowa on Monday, the day the settlement terms were announced.

“When powerful corporations collude behind the scenes to raise prices, working families suffer the costs,” New York Attorney General Letitia James, who helped lead the investigation, said in a statement. “These egg producers manipulated the market to squeeze even more profit out of consumers and businesses."

None of the companies admitted wrongdoing under the settlements. But to settle the states' claims, Cal-Maine, Versova and Hickman's will collectively be on the hook for $3.3 million and 53 million eggs, James and others said. Those eggs would be donated by the companies and make their ways to food banks and nonprofits. The money will be distributed to the states.

The Justice Department and the states also outlined actions the companies will need to take, including adopting antitrust compliance programs and banning communicating with competitors on pricing and bidding strategies.

The settlements would still need court approval. The Justice Department's Omeed A. Assefi said Tuesday that the proposed settlements “resolve years of conduct that dragged on Americans’ finances and their everyday lives.”

Average U.S. egg prices soared to a record high of about $6.23 per dozen in March 2025, amid a bird flu epidemic that forced farmers to slaughter millions of egg-laying chickens. Egg producers blamed price spike on the outbreak, but critics accused big companies of taking advantage of their market dominance and the government began its investigation.

Monday’s complaint notes that price quotations “dropped significantly” after Cal-Maine, Versova and Hickman’s learned of the Justice Department’s investigation and were instructed to preserve documents in March 2025. Consumer egg prices also later tumbled — to under $2.20 per dozen as of May 2026 — as replenished flocks caught up despite the ongoing outbreak.

Cal-Maine maintained Monday that allegations of price manipulation were “baseless” and that it believes its conduct has been legal. It also noted that while it was part of a cooperative with the other egg producers, it left the group in May 2024.

Still, Cal-Maine CEO Sherman Miller said the company's settlement agreement “enables us to move forward so we can devote our full attention to what matters most: delivering affordable, high-quality eggs and egg-based prepared foods to consumers nationwide.”

Miller added the period the Justice Department reviewed “was a particularly challenging time” — noting that, beyond avian flu, the COVID-19 pandemic, weather and other market conditions have contributed to temporary supply shocks and high prices in recent years. He said Cal-Maine “took numerous steps to protect and grow its hen flock” in that time.

Versova echoed a similar sentiment, particularly pointing to the toll the bird flu has had on its farmers, who it noted “don’t set the wholesale price of eggs.” Instead, Versova said the price of most of its eggs depends on cost fluctuations of grain used in hen feeds.

Meanwhile, Hickman's owner Mantiqueira USA, which acquired the egg producer in November, said the “conduct referenced in the complaint predates our acquisition," noting that it is committed to complying with the law.

Some advocacy groups say the proposed settlements aren't enough.

“Consumers paid record prices while dominant egg producers reported extraordinary profits, yet the result is another settlement that corporations can treat as the cost of doing business rather than meaningful accountability,” said Angela Huffman, president of Farm Action.

Cal-Maine — the only of the three companies that is public and reports quarterly financials — reported a profit of $1.22 billion for the 2025 fiscal year. Under its settlement agreement with the states, the company would pay $1.5 million and donate 30 million eggs.

Meanwhile, per court documents, Versova would provide 20 million eggs and $800,000, and Hickman's would be on the hook for 3.25 million eggs and $1 million.

In addition to New York, these states were party to the settlement agreements: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

FILE - Eggs are for sale at a grocery store Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley,File)