Tunisia v England Review

So England finally played their opening game in the 2018 World Cup and got of to the best possible start with Harry Kane scoring after 11 minutes. I have not seen an England team start a world cup so well for a few years and it really looked like England would go on to win the game quite comfortably.

Harry Kane is a very good player and he was first to react to what was an outstanding save by the goal keeper who didn't have a lot of luck when the ball fell very invitingly for Kane and he just doesn't miss chances like that.

England were much the better side first half and created a lot of good opportunities to score, but failed to take any of them, it was about that time when the commentators started to talk about England regretting squandering those chances when England conceded a very soft penalty indeed, though Kyle Walker's arm did make contact with the Tunisia players head and he made the most of it.

The decision went to VAR but that was no help for England and the penalty was duly awarded. I must say it was a very good penalty (Messi take note) and though Pickford agonisingly nearly got to it, he went the right way, it had too much pace and went into the net to make the score a very unlikely 1-1 at half time.

The second half was very disappointing from England, they lacked urgency and a way to breakdown a Tunisia team that were very clearly looking to take a draw off England in the opening game. Though very organised they were very fragile, collapsing at the slightest touch.

The most comical parts of the game were seeing Kane man handled to the floor on numerous occasions and Tunisia players not retreating 10 yards for free kicks. As the minutes ticked by into injury time it really looked like Tunisia were going to achieve their objective and get a draw.

Southgate had earlier thrown on Rashford and Loftus-Cheek in an effort to win the game and though they both looked lively I really couldn't see an England winner, however from a late corner which was flicked on Kane found himself unmarked once again in the box, they didn't learn from the first goal and Kane made no mistake from the header.

Tunisia were absolutely devastated by that and you would have been forgiven for thinking they had been knocked out of the tournament, perhaps with Belgium to play next they probably have been. This result makes things so much better for England in the group now as next they play Panama, which again won't be an easy game but England really should look to win that and virtually seal qualification to the knockout stage barring an absolute bizarre result in the last game.