Tunisia vs England, Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2018, Match 14 in Volgograd: Harry Kane wins it for Three Lions

England beat Tunisia in Group G opener

Here’s a quick recap of the match:

Harry Kane’s stoppage-time header clinched a tense 2-1 win for England in their opening World Cup game against Tunisia.

Kane opened the scoring in the 11th minute during England’s dominance of the early stages. But Tunisia equalized when Ferjani Sassi calmly slotted a penalty in the 35th and pushed the young England lineup right to the limit.

Kane’s winning header came as the clock had just ticked over into injury time. Standing alone at the far post he guided a Harry Maguire header into the Tunisian net.

His winner came at the end of a second half during which Tunisia defended deep and nullified England’s attacking intent.

Belgium and England off to a winning start

Here’s how Group G looks after the opening round of fixtures

England beat Tunisia

Take a look at the stats from the match

Excellent outing for Kieran Trippier!

Kieran Tripper created six chances against #TUN; the most by any player in a single game at the 2018 #WorldCup so far.

Bury Beckham. pic.twitter.com/PxQDjmCwrI

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 18, 2018

Firstpost’s in-house prophet

Well.... https://t.co/gYNxRJ7ojT

— Anish Anand (@testbowler) June 18, 2018

Squeaky bum time!

90 - England have scored a 90+ minute winner for the first time ever in regular time during a World Cup match. Dramatic. #ENG #ENGTUN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xTiDbJuGh8

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

England with a winning start to their World Cup campaign

Indeed, peep, peep! It is all over and ‘Football is coming home’ is playing over the PA. England are delighted. The Tunisians are sitting on their hunches and can’t quite take it in just yet. The Three Lions have done it, but it was a dour performance, in particular in the second half. Southgate is hugging his captain, a token of appreciation no doubt, but this was an awkward evening for England. There is a general truth that you have to feel your way into a big tournament, but these 90 minutes have already suggested England don’t belong to the elite at this tournament. They may want to scale back their ambitions a bit.

Kaptain Kane!

Harry Kane, take a bow!

15 - Harry Kane has now scored 15 goals in 25 appearances for England; the last player to score more in their opening 25 games for England was @GaryLineker (20). Company. #ENG #ENGTUN #WorldCup

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

Peep Peep Peeeeeep! Harry Kane gets England off to a winning start!

It’s all over in Volgograd and England have managed to win all three points! They deserved to win against a resolute Tunisia and captain Harry Kane scored twice from set-pieces to get England’s World Cup campaign off on a winning note. Personally, I’ve been pretty impressed by this England performance. Had this been the 2016 Euro team or the 2014 World Cup team, England might have not come away with a win.

90+3` Tunisia 1-2 England

Dier has come on. Oh what irony. England are going defensive now in the dying seconds of the game. Tunisia need to throw the kitchen sink here at England, but there is barely any time left.

90+2` Tunisia 1-2 England

But it is Harry Kane, who saves the English in the end! And yes, from a set piece. He was left totally unmarked at the far post. It’s a capital mistake by the Tunisian defence and all their good, stultifying work has been undone. The captain has secured the three points for England.

90+`1 HARRY KANE STRIKES!

Harry Kane has done it for England! Three points surely in the bag now for England. Trippier’s corner is headed on by Maguire and Kane flicks it into goal! What an end to the match!

86` Tunisia 1-1 England

RLC glides to the byline and cuts it back to Rashford who looked set to shoot but instead, lets it run to Lingard who can’t take his host. Presumably, Lingard called for the ball but Rashford should have taken the shot and he knows it.

84` Tunisia 1-1 England

Third and final change for Tunisia and Khazri comes off for Saber Khalifa.

82` Tunisia 1-1 England

Rashford wriggles his way into the box from the byline and wins England a corner. Stones goes up for it but is beaten to it by Mustapha who punches it away.

79` Tunisia 1-1 England

England make their second change as Dele Alli comes off for Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

78` Tunisia 1-1 England

Alli is tripped right at the edge of the D. Young takes the free-kick but it sails over goal.

76` Tunisia 1-1 England

Ben Amor has come on. He is got a simple job: shield the defence and run as much as he can. Can he become Tunisia’s version of Emil Halfredsson?

74` Tunisia 1-1 England 

England in three words: dominant without punch.

73` Tunisia 1-1 England

Tunisia make their second change as Mohamed Ben Amor comes on for Naim Sliti.

71` Tunisia 1-1 England

The finality of football, by and large, is to score goals. I don’t think that has downed on the Tunisians yet. They pose absolutely no threat whatsoever. Tunisia are a sterile team. Southgate brings on Rashford, who has dropped down the pecking order at Manchester United. Why not opt for Jamie Vardy?

70` Tunisia 1-1 England

Henderson with a dink over the defence towards Alli who has ghosted into the box. But he can’t get a touch on the ball as Mustapha collects. Wouldn’t have mattered as Alli was flag offside.

68` Tunisia 1-1 England

Trippies takes it and he manages to take it over the wall and bring it down but it is wide.

67` Tunisia 1-1 England

First change of the match and Marcus Rashford comes on for Raheem Sterling as England win a free-kick within striking distance.

64` Tunisia 1-1 England

Harry Kane has gone quiet. The Tunisians are shadowing him well. England are offering very little in the final third. Behind Ben Mustapha’s goal, the Three Lions fans are still singing, but the encouragement doesn’t seem to rub off on their team. When Tunisia do have the ball, they play it around at the back and then kick it long. Quality drain in this game and England have it all to do.

60` Tunisia 1-1 England

Is this England England-ing (for a better verb)? You know it when you see it and it’s getting messy. Plenty of calls for Emile Heskey and Andy Carroll! No, let us not exaggerate, but this is poor from England. Where is the zip and the zap from the first half? It’s not going to come from the Tunisians. They will happily settle for the draw.

56` Tunisia 1-1 England

We have heard this before at other venues – last night in Rostov. Chants of ‘Russia, Russia.’ The hosts play their second game of the World Cup in group A tomorrow against Egypt.

53` Tunisia 1-1 England

The restart is low key and sloppy. England don’t have that fizz anymore. Tunisia can sit back reasonably comfortable. England need to break with pace.

50` Tunisia 1-1 England

After a slow start to the match, England win a corner. Trippier with an outswinging corner which is headed goalwards by Maguire. Mariah has his arms all over Kane and brings him down but no penalty. More importantly, VAR’s VAR?

Second half resumes

The action resumes in the second half at the Volgograd Arena! No changes to either side.

HT. Tunisia 1-1 England

Take a look at the stats from the first-half

HT! Stat alert!

6 - England have had six shots on target so far, their most in the first half of a World Cup match since the 1966 semi-final against Portugal (also six). Frustration.#ENG #ENGTUN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/tkvtW9HArl

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

HT! Tunisia 1-1 England

That was intense, even if England’s intensity dropped off somewhat. It’s been a roller coaster in Volvograd, and there is a lot of gloating on social media – same old England. In truth, they began well and played modern football, which is a victory for the English in itself, but then they were the masters of their own downfall, yet again. Astounding and funny at the same time. More of the same please in the second half.

45+2` Tunisia 1-1 England

Tunisia conceded from a set piece and they have been very vulnerable from corners and free kicks. They are giving too many of those away. African teams, in general, have been undone by set pieces. It’s almost an affliction. Then again, Brazil also conceded from a corner last night, though Miranda was pushed. The Brazilian coach complained afterwards about the VAR and the Brazilians FA will ask for a formal explanation from FIFA. One feels the English will also have their opinion about VAR tonight. The technology isn’t much loved in England anyway.

45` Tunisia 1-1 England

Three minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

44` Tunisia 1-1 England

England fans offer a short rendition of ‘God save the Queen.’ Well, indeed, they might need divine intervention. This time Lingard comes agonisingly close, but his little dink kisses the outside of the post. This game is simply wild.

43` Tunisia 1-1 England. The post denies Lingard!

Trippier with a brilliant ball over the top from the right and Lingard times his run perfectly. He gets the deftest of touches to poke the ball past the onrushing Mustapha but the ball brushes the outside of the post. England come agonisingly close to regaining their lead.

42` Tunisia 1-1 England

The ball falls kindly for Lingard who smashes it goalwards 10 yards out but his shot is deflected over for a corner.

41` Tunisia 1-1 England

That was a perfect penalty from Sassi. Textbook. The game has become very frantic and England have only themselves to blame – this sounds like Euro 2016 writing mode. An almighty scramble ensues in front of the Tunisian goalmouth and somehow Stones doesn’t score. Dear, oh, dear. England have been the architects of their own downfall here. Southgate looks concerned.

40` Tunisia 1-1 England

1998 - Ferjani Sassi's goal was the first penalty that England have conceded in regular play at a World Cup since June 1998 (Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta). Curse. #ENG #ENGTUN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/IA1Szza1Qh

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

39` Tunisia 1-1 England

England should have had a penalty in the previous play as replay show Kane being rugby-tackled by Sassi. VAR’s VAR?

38` Tunisia 1-1 England. How did England not score?!

Trippier’s deep free-kick from the left is headed downwards by Maguire. Alli flicks it upwards on the bounce and it looks destined to cross the line but is cleared off it. Sterling has a swing at it but can only catch air. The ball pings around the box before Khazri clear.

36` Tunisia 1-1 England

The ref immediately pointed to the spot. He didn’t hesitate, very resolute decision and the Tunisians in the stadium exploded. It was silly by Walker and Ben Youssef crashed down to the earth easily. VAR did check, but the decision stands. England had lost some of their early intensity and Tunisia were beginning to see more of the ball. This game feels like every England game we have ever watched. A kit-bag of neuroses, some decent play followed by clumsiness. Plenty of time left of course.

35` Ferjani Sassi scores!

Sassi makes no mistake from the spot as Tunisia draw level. Pickford dived the right way and even got a touch but Sassi’s shot was too strong and Tunisia become the first African team to score at the 2018 FIFA World Cup!

32` Kyle Walker fouls Fakhreddine Ben Youssef!

Walker with an arm to Ben Youssef’s face right in front of the referee!

31` Tunisia 0-1 England

Harry Maguire has looked suspect at left-back against Dylan Bronn, who plays his club football at Ghent in Belgium. Tunisia’s best spell of the game so far. Sassi’s attempt from just outside the box is deflected into a corner kick. That said, the Carthage Eagles have been very disappointing, limited in both their play and ambitions.

29` Tunisia 0-1 England

England get a contentious free-kick which is floated in by Trippier. Maguire directs a powerful header at the near post but Mustapha saves.

26` Tunisia 0-1 England

Maguire loses possession in a dangerous position and somehow makes up for it only for Walker to take time to clear the ball allowing Sassi to have a crack at goal. The ball took a touch off Maguire and Tunisia get a corner. Khazri takes it but England clear it.

25` Tunisia 0-1 England

Both Harry Kane and Southgate spoke of how much they wanted to show their qualities to the world. So far, England have delivered. They are no longer pedestrian and clueless, as in many previous tournaments. Panache, pedigree and purpose – it’s all there. Not precisely Guardiola’s pressing, positioning and passing, but a marked improvement for England.

22` Tunisia 0-1 England

Good tracking back from Alli to block Sliti’s attempted cross and Tunisia get a corner. Nothing comes of it.

17` Tunisia 0-1 England

Walker spots Trippier’s run into the box and feeds him the ball. The Spurs man cuts it back to the penalty spot where two of his clubmates, Kane and Alli were waiting but none of them took the shot. The ball comes to Henderson whose fierce shot is straight at Mustapha in goal. England looking dangerous going forward.

15` Tunisia 0-1 England

Look away Liverpool fans

#ENG captains at the #WorldCup:

1998: ⚽⚽
2002: ⚽
2006: ⚽
2010: ⚽
2014: ✖️
2018: ⚽

Since 1998, only Steven Gerrard (2014) has captained England and failed to score at the #WorldCup. pic.twitter.com/tJg3pYU9DC

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 18, 2018

13` Tunisia 0-1 England

Oh dear. Don’t think Mouez Hassen can continue in goal for Tunisia. The keeper looked to have injured his left shoulder during Sterling’s chance. He damaged it further trying to save Kane’s goal and he is down clutching his shoulder. Ben Mustapha gets ready to come on and Hassen walks off in tears. Terrible shame.

11` Harry Kane opens the scoring for England!

It’s an early goal for England and richly deserved so. They carved the Tunisian defence open at will and converted their third major chance. Tunisia’s goalkeeper could still parry Stones’ header, but Harry Kane was on hand to tap in. The Tottenham striker is off the mark. Remember that he didn’t score at Euro 2016. This early goal will settle England’s nerves. Tunisia will have to rethink their approach. Southgate’s team are very much in the driving seat.

9` Tunisia 0-0 England

Time for the Africans to attack but they can’t penetrate the English defence.

5` Tunisia 0-0 England

Very sloppy defending by Tunisia and Jesse Lingard should score. Early warning for the Tunisians, attacking intent from the English. Oh dear, from the ensuing set-piece England come close again. England causing havoc, but Sterling can’t tap it in. Lightening quick combination from England and almost the perfect start.

4` Tunisia 0-0 England. Sterling misses sitter

How did Raheem Sterling miss that?! Brilliant pass from Alli to find Lingard on his left. The keeper comes off his line and Lingard squares it to Sterling who, with the whole goal gaping, fluffs his line.

2` Tunisia 0-0 England

First chance goes England’s way! Delightful ball over the top from Henderson to find Alli. The Spurs man cuts it back to Sterling but it is blocked by a Tunisian defender. He, however, fails to clear the ball away and Alli nicks it away and Lingard shoots but his shot is saved off the line by the keeper.

1` Tunisia 0-0 England

Ashley Young, Harry Maguire, John Stones and Kyle Walker pass the ball amongst themselves before Trippier pings in a long ball towards Lingaard. Too much pace on the ball and the keeper collects.

And we are off!

Dele Alli and Englgetgets the match underway

England fans out in full force

The estimate was of 2,000 England fans at this game. It feels like a little more than that…

Almost there!

Stat alert!

These are two very young teams, so here goes the stat alert. Tunisia’s average is a week younger than England’s: 26 years and 10 days versus 26 years and 17 days.

Head-to-head record

Head-to-head: The teams have played each other once before when the Three Lions won 2-0 in the group stage of the 1998 World Cup.

England vs Tunisia

Tunisia have long punched above their weight in Africa and this World Cup will be their fifth finals. In a group with both England and Tunisia, they will struggle to progress, but they play well-organised football and know how to score. In recent friendlies, they drew 2-2 with Portugal, an impressive result, and lost narrowly to Spain. FIFA’s official line-up suggests a 4-3-3 formation, coach Nabil Maaloul’s preferred formation, but that may morph into a 4-5-1 during the game. Keep an eye out for both Wahbi Khazri and left-back Ali Maaloul.

England vs Tunisia

After the nadir of Nice against Iceland – Garry Cahill played as an improvised striker and splenetic England fans sang ‘You are not fit to wear the shirt’ – England return to a major finals. Gareth Southgate has used English success at the U-17 and U-20 World Cup last year to introduce new and young players in the English set-up.  England will play in a predictable 3-5-2 formation. Jordan Henderson anchors the midfield and Ashley Young plays as a left wing-back. Harry Kane will start up front with Raheem Sterling, as the skipper seeks to open his major tournament account.

England vs Tunisia

‘Football is coming home’ is ringing around the impressive Volvograd Arena. It’s been a day of scorching temperatures and cloudless skies on the banks of Volga. The wide avenues near the stadium have been closed off and have become pedestrianised. You wouldn’t say that Volvograd is hosting a key World Cup game. Everyone took a stroll in the sun, some even took a dip in the mighty river.

Pre-match reading

The tempered expectations and zero pre-tournament hype may just work in England’s favour and they could surprise everyone with a semi-final run. Anything beyond that would be an unrealistic dream as this team is not developed yet to match the traditional heavyweights of football, writes Nikhila Makker. Read her England preview here .

England vs Tunisia

248 - England's starting XI has a cumulative total of 248 caps between them; the lowest by an England starting XI in an international tournament since June 1962 (246 caps v Bulgaria). Fresh.#ENG #TUN #ENGTUN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/UrcT1fAoCC

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

England vs Tunisia

9 - For their 9th successive World Cup tournament, England's starting XI in their opening game have never all previously started a England game together before. Unfamiliar.#WorldCup #ENG #TUN #ENGTUN

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 18, 2018

Here’s how Tunisia line up!

Premier League fans may remember Whabi Khazri who plays for Sunderland. Khazri leads a Tunisian lineup made mostly off players of Tunisian heritage who ply their trade in France.

Tunisia: Hassen; Meriah, Syam Ben Youssef, Bronn, Maaloul; Skhiri, Badri, Sassi; Fakhereedine Ben Youssef, Khazri, Sliti

Harry Kane leads England’s hopes!

Harry Maguire starts ahead of Gary Cahill in England’s back three. Jordan Henderson is prefered over Eric Dier in holding midfield. Here’s how Gareth Southgate’s men lineup

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Lingard, Henderson, Alli, Young; Sterling, Kane

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Tunisia vs England!

This is the second match in Group G and starts at 11.30 pm IST.  Stay tuned for live scores and regular updates from Volgograd Arena.