TUNISIA 1, ENGLAND 2
Harry Kane’s injury time winner secured three vital points for England as they kick off their World Cup 2018 campaign in Russia against Tunisia with a win.
Kane’s opening goal was cancelled out by Ferjani Sassi’s penalty on a night when few decisions went their way until the England captain popped up with an injury time winner to break Tunisian hearts as England collected all three points in the opening match of a tournament for the first time since 2006 in Germany.
After a rampant opening period for England, with six shots on target for England – a high so far in the World Cup – they contrived to convert only one of their chances, through Harry Kane, and were inevitably pegged back when Kyle Walker conceded a penalty soon afterwards.
It had been all too familiar stuff from England as they failed to capitalise on a fast start to allow Tunisia back into the game to equalise and then lacked the creativity to unlock Tunisia in a flat second half until an injury time corner routine paid off and Kane inevitably released the pressure which had been building with the first goal scored in injury time after 90 minutes of a World Cup match by England.
England took the lead in the 11th minute after a high tempo start in a Volgograd Stadium swarming with insects – with chances for Jesse Lingard, Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling whose momentary indecision in front of goal saw him put a golden chance wide at close range from Lingard’s square pass in the first five minutes.
The movement was incredible from England and they were soon in the lead.
Harry Kane opens his tournament account for England
John Stones’ towering header from Ashley Young’s corner was palmed away by Mouez Hassem but Kane was unmarked a the back post and stabbed in the rebound.
Hassem had been struggling since the start after a challenge by Jesse Lingard and aggravated a problem with his left shoulder after the goal before having to trudge off in tears to be replaced by Farouk Ben Mustapha after 15 minutes.
Ben Mustapha was soon in action with Jordan Henderson testing the replacement ‘keeper from 25 yards with a shot that needed a low save.
England should have been out of sight after that quick fire opening and Lingard scuffed a superb cross field pass by his United team-mate Young, hitting it into the ground where it bounced harmlessly wide with a chance looming.
Tunisia did trouble England with a spell of danger for England midway through the first half, Ferjani Sassi had a shot deflected wide by Maguire who had been caught in possession.
Maguire headed Kieran Trippier’s free kick towards goal under Tunisia pressure where it was comfortably saved by Ben Mustapha but England were starting to find Tunisia regaining their composure after the early setback.
Kyle Walker concedes soft penalty equaliser for Tunisia
Kyle Walker was booked and conceded a penalty for fouling Fakhreddine Ben Youssef after 33 minutes. There was no doubt over the VAR review of the decision and Sassi stroked the ball inside the left side netting of the goal a couple of minutes later despite Jordan Pickford guessing correctly and getting fingertips onto the ball.
There was a goalmouth scramble at another England set piece which went to waste after a miskick by John Stones while a potential penalty for a foul on Kane was denied after a re-assessment by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Lingard had a shot deflected over and also hit the woodwork after touching the ball past Ben Mustapha shortly before the break but the warning signs for an England retreat were already starting to show.
The second half started more slowly with Tunisia holding on to the ball better but a England were being wrestled to the ground again at another corner by the cynical Tunisians with no action taken by the refereeing team.
England’s focus began to drift in the second half heat and the struggled to build meaningful chances.
Pressures builds on England but Harry Kane delivers injury time winner
Marcus Rashford replaced Sterling in the first of Southgate’s changes in the 68th minute, and a 25 yard free kick was sent wide by Trippier as time started to run out for England.
England were playing higher up the pitch and Henderson’s chip towards Alli was adjudged to have been offside with Tunisia protecting their lead as time ran out.
Ashley Young placed a free kick over the bar after Alli was fouled on the edge of the area – the Spurs midfielder was finally replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek with 10 minutes to go but in reality had lacked intensity – like the rest of the England team – since sustaining a knock in the first half.
Loftus-Cheek added urgency and, crucially, won a corner as the game drifted into injury time.
Inevitable, then, that England were rescued by captain fantastic Kane who pounced on Harry Maguire’s flick-on from Trippier’s corner to head home from three yards out.
MATCH STATS
England: Pickford, Trippier, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Young, Henderson, Lingard (Dier 90+3), Alli (Loftus-Cheek 80), Sterling (Rashford 68), Kane
Booked: Walker
Goals: Kane 11, 90+1
Tunisia: Hassen (Ben Mustapha 15), S Ben Youssef, Meriah, F Ben Youssef, Badri, Khazri (Khalifa 85), Bronn, Maaloul, Sassi, Skhiri, Sliti (Ben Amor 73)
Goal: Sassi 35 (pen)