Kane hails a massive win

ENGLAND captain Harry Kane hailed the 2-1 victory over Tunisia as “massive” after he headed home in stoppage time in its opening World Cup Group G match yesterday.

England had made a superb start at the Volgograd Arena when Kane lashed home from close range in the 11th minute, but 24 minutes later Tunisia drew level from the penalty spot through Ferjani Sassi.

After struggling to break down the resilient north Africans, England finally found a way through the massed defensive ranks when Kane swivelled to head home in added time.

“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.

“There were a lot of decisions against us and maybe there was a bit of justice at the end. That’s the World Cup. It’s tough.”

After Belgium thrashed Panama 3-0 in the other Group G game, the pressure was on England to deliver only its second win in its past nine games at World Cups.

“It’s a massive boost, a massive bonus. We kept fighting and got the late goal and a big win,” England midfielder Jordan Henderson said.

“I felt positive at 1-1, the pace did drop off a bit. We had to keep creating chances, we didn’t play as well second half but they defended deep. Winning the first game is always massive.”

England manager Gareth Southgate said: “I think we deserved the win.

“We had total control of the game in the second half and we stayed patient. I am really pleased and even if we had drawn I would have been really proud.”

Tunisia’s disciplined defensive formation was gradually worn down by a superior England team and its “optimal striker” Harry Kane.

“I think he was behind the victory of the English team. It was him who was always there at the right time. He is the optimal striker,” Tunisia coach Nabil Maaloul told reporters.

“The spaces that were created by Kane were very scary to us.”

Alan Shearer, who scored when England beat Tunisia 2-0 in the 1998 World Cup, lauded Kane.

“I can’t stress enough the importance (of those goals),” Shearer said on BBC1’s World Cup Match of the Day.

“The manager gave him the captain’s armband for one reason, he’s the go-to player when someone has to make a difference. “It will give him huge confidence. “When the manager is looking for someone to do something, you want the captain to do something.”