England Got the spot in World Cup
England’s opening game of the World Cup had with happy ending. With five wins in their opening fixtures of every World Cup and European Championship since 1950.
They had overplayed Tunisia without outscoring them and, at 1-1, a draw would have pained Southgate, to say the least, given the number of chances his team had passed up to make it a more straightforward evening.
But when has it ever been straightforward with England. Kane had already scored from one corner and the team had played so thrillingly it was bordering on absurd that the game had reached the end of normal time without them being in a winning position.
England boss Gareth Southgate says he would have been proud of his players’ performance even if they had drawn their World Cup opener against Tunisia.
Harry Kane scored twice, including a dramatic injury-time winner, after Ferjani Sassi’s penalty had cancelled out the England captain’s opener.
“We created so many clear-cut chances, especially in the first half, and were in total control in the second half,” Southgate told BBC One.
“Good teams score late goals.” He added: “I was most proud of the way we kept playing even though the clock was running down.
“We stayed patient, and didn’t just throw the ball in the box.
“We deserved the win. We were strong on set-plays all night. If we’d drawn, even though it would have made life more difficult for us, I’d have been proud of the performance.”
Meanwhile, Dele Alli hopes he will be fit for Sunday’s game against Panama after going off in the 80th minute with a quad injury.
He seemed set to come off in the first half, with Fabian Delph ready to replace him, but managed to play for most of the game.
“Hopefully I am OK,” said the midfielder.
Southgate said: “He was feeling a little bit of an issue just before half-time, but he felt he could carry on and I thought the runs that he was making and the way he was pressing the ball was still causing a problem.”
Maguire said: “I had a couple of nervy passes in the first half – it’s a big occasion and your first game at this high pressure. You have to focus and concentrate and I feel I grew into the game.”
We kept you waiting, but how good did that feel? #threelions pic.twitter.com/FgBMnWPDG1
— England (@England) June 18, 2018
