Tunisia gives England fits
VOLGOGRAD, Russia Twice wrestled to the ground during the match, England captain Harry Kane finally evaded the Tunisian defence just as time was running out.
Kane found an open area of space at the far post and used his head to meet Harry Maguire’s flick-on, scoring the winning goal Monday in a 2-1 victory at the World Cup.
It was relief for Kane and Gareth Southgate, who leapt into the air in delight as his World Cup debut as a coach got off to a winning start.
“The best teams in the world keep that belief in what they’re doing,” Southgate said, “and in the end they break the opposition down.”
England shouldn’t have found it so tough in its Group G opener against such opposition. Not after Kane got England off to a perfect start with an 11th-minute tap in. But after Kyle Walker softly conceded a penalty that Ferjani Sassi converted in the 35th, many of the fouls went against England.
“Maybe there was a bit of justice at the end,” Kane said.
Finally, Kane showcased on the international stage the predatory instinct in front of goal that has served Tottenham so well. Only two years ago, the striker failed to find the net at the 2016 European Championship, which ended in humiliation with a loss to Iceland in the last 16.
The team has been transformed by Southgate since then. For all the placidness and togetherness within the group, Southgate has added persistence and doggedness.
“It shows the work we have put in these last few weeks,” Walker said. “Togetherness and believing in ourselves.”
BELGIUM 3, PANAMA 0
SOCHI, Russia — There was a sense of relief for Panama when the last whistle blew at Fisht Stadium in Sochi.
The team had just lost to Belgium in its first-ever World Cup match, and it felt almost like victory.
“Fortunately it didn’t happen what everybody thought it would happen, which was for us to lose by six or seven goals,” Panama coach Hernan Gomez said. “Panama played with dignity. It wasn’t bad.”
The 55th-ranked Panamanians put in a valiant effort against the talented Belgians, holding on to a scoreless first-half draw despite conceding many opportunities. It wasn’t until the second half that Belgium broke loose with a goal by Dries Mertens and two by Romelu Lukaku.
“The difference between Belgium and Panama in football is greater than three goals,” Gomez said. “Nobody likes losing. Some people may say that three goals is a lot, but honestly, three goals against the team we played against today, taking into consideration our experience, this was a normal result, or even abnormal if you consider that it should have been worse.”
SWEDEN 1, SOUTH KOREA
0
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Sweden got the break it needed from the video review system, and team captain Andreas Granqvist didn’t waste the chance.
Granqvist slid his penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net in the 65th minute to give Sweden a victory over South Korea.
“I was calm. I waited for the goalie and then I put it in the corner,” said Granqvist, a central defender. “We got the penalty, we scored, and then it was just a fight to the end.”
The Swedes, playing in their first World Cup since 2006, were awarded the penalty after Salvadoran referee Joel Aguilar consulted a video screen on the sideline. Aguilar had originally waved play on after South Korea substitute Kim Minwoo slid into a tackle and collided with Viktor Claesson. But he took another look and decided Kim had tripped Claesson as he tried to clear the ball.
“There was no doubt it was a penalty and should have been called right away,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said.
It was the third penalty to be awarded because of a video review in the first 12 games at this year’s World Cup. France and Peru also benefitted from the technology, though the Peruvians missed their penalty kick.