England captain Harry Kane scored twice including a stoppage-time winner as he led his side to a last-gasp 2-1 win over Tunisia in their opening World Cup match.
England's Harry Kane celebrating his goal. Photo: AFP
Just when it looked like England were going to extend their disappointing run in World Cup tournaments, Kane stooped at the far post to turn in a header in the 91st minute.
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England had promised to launch their campaign with attacking football and they tore into Tunisia from the start of the Group G game, their red-shirted players buzzing into open spaces.
Kane put England deservedly ahead in the 11th minute when Tunisia keeper Mouez Hassen could only palm a strong header by John Stones towards the striker who coolly netted.
"At 1-1 we had a plan to... keep probing but not get caught on the counter-attack," said England manager Gareth Southgate.
"At the end the pressure built and built. We did the right things and made good decisions and were good value for the win."
Tunisia came to Russia with a reputation for being hard to break down. Instead they were opened up repeatedly by England early on, especially on the right flank with Kieran Trippier posing attacking menace with his pace and incisive crosses.
However, England were let down by a lack of composure in front of goal on a hot night on the banks of the Volga river, with many players clearly bothered by clouds of gnats.
England paid the price for their wastefulness when the North Africans, who had barely begun to press forward, were awarded a penalty before the break.
Defender Kyle Walker swung an arm behind him and caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef in the face and Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan pointed to the spot.
Ferjani Sassi, after appearing to whisper a prayer to himself, scored low to the right of England keeper Jordan Pickford in the 35th minute.
PENALTY CLAIMS
England had penalty claims of their own turned down before struggling to maintain their intensity after halftime. Tunisia looked more comfortable as they sat back in defence, only to be undone by Kane in the 91st minute.
From a Trippier corner, a glancing header from Harry Maguire found the Tottenham Hotspur striker at the back post and he cleverly nodded home to give England a winning start.
"We could have had a couple of penalties, especially when you look at theirs," Kane said. "Maybe (it was) a bit of justice to score at the back post at the end."
The result means Belgium top Group G on goal difference after a 3-0 over World Cup debutants Panama earlier on Monday.
England came to Russia determined to put behind them the disappointment of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when they failed to win a game and went out at the first hurdle. Then came elimination from Euro 2016 at the hands of tiny Iceland.
However, Kane believes Monday's win showed the spirit within Southgate's young and largely inexperienced squad.
"It's massive. I am so proud of the lads. We kept going. We spoke a lot about togetherness and we've got a great bond together," he said.
- Reuters