Kane scores late winner as England beat Tunisia

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England's Harry Kane celebrates with Harry Maguire and Ashley Young after scoring their second goal
England's Harry Kane celebrates with Harry Maguire and Ashley Young after scoring their second goal

Captain Harry Kane scored twice, including an injury-time winner, as England battled to victory over Tunisia in their opening game of the World Cup.

Kane nodded home from close range in the 91st minute following Harry Maguire’s flick-on from a corner, adding to his opportunistic finish in the first half in Volgograd.

Manager Gareth Southgate has instilled a feel-good factor in the side since taking over in November 2016 and England’s youngest team at a World Cup since 1958 showed flashes of thrilling attacking football, although poor finishing almost proved costly.

Their speed caused Tunisia plenty of problems as Jesse Lingard had a close-range shot brilliantly saved by Mouez Hassen and Raheem Sterling scuffed a shot wide in the first five minutes.

England made a deserved breakthrough in the 11th minute through Kane after Hassen brilliantly kept out John Stones’ header.

Despite being on the back foot, Tunisia equalised through Ferjani Sassi’s penalty after Kyle Walker was adjudged to have elbowed Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.

Hassen suffered an injury and was replaced by Farouk Ben Mustapha, who saved well to keep out a Maguire header, while Dele Alli headed against the crossbar and Lingard poked a shot on to a post.

England play Panama, who lost 3-0 to Belgium earlier on Monday, in their next Group G game on Sunday, which kicks off at 13:00 BST and will be shown live on the BBC.

England’s first-half display contained much to admire but it was a sign of their wastefulness in front of goal that it took the injury-time intervention from captain Kane to seal victory.

Southgate’s side flew at Tunisia and racked up chance after chance, with only Kane’s early goal after Hassen clawed out Stones’ header to show for it.

Alli saw a header deflected on to the woodwork, while Jesse Lingard suffered a similar fate as well as seeing Hassen somehow block another effort with an outstretched leg.

Jordan Henderson had a shot saved and other chances were spurned as England fashioned some magnificent approach play only to fail to apply the final flourish.

It was remarkable that Tunisia reached half-time on levels terms as they were often bewildered by England’s pace and movement before being spared by their generosity in front of goal.

Luckily for England, they have a world-class striker with a golden touch in Kane, who was coolness personified to carefully direct in Maguire’s flick for the winner.

Southgate’s side can now move on to face Panama on Sunday with confidence and momentum.

It was 983 days since Raheem Sterling’s last goal for England as he stepped out to face Tunisia – and that barren run continues after another night of international frustration for the Manchester City forward.

Sterling’s attitude and ability is never in doubt, never ducking a challenge or dropping his intensity, but the numbers are simply not stacking up at England level.

He became more assured in front of goal in Manchester City’s history-making 100-point Premier League title win last season. He seems, however, to feel the old anxieties with England.

Sterling was grateful that a glaring miss from Jesse Lingard’s pass was rescued by a linesman’s flag against the Manchester United midfielder, but he almost tried too hard as the game progressed and was running up blind alleys before he was replaced by Marcus Rashford after 68 minutes.

Sterling has now failed to score in his past 21 England appearances, in which he has attempted 24 shots. A very grim statistic.

He received a warm embrace from manager Southgate as he went off, but it is time a rare natural ability was transformed into end product for his country.

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