Heartbreak for Tunisia
Last-minute header spells defeat for Tunisia after Belgium beat Panama
HARRY Kane grabbed a dramatic late win for England last night, powering home a header in the dying minutes of their World Cup opener after Belgium had earlier swept past Panama. Gareth Southgate’s team won 2-1 after it looked as if they had squandered their chance to take all three points when they faded in the second half following a bright opening – but the Tottenham striker, who also scored England’s opener, was not to be denied.
Menaced by flying insects under the floodlights in Volgograd, England raced out of the blocks and took an early lead in the Group G match through Kane.
But the young English team squandered multiple chances, with Jesse Lingard particularly wasteful, and Tunisia made them pay when Ferjani Sassi scored from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker was judged to have fouled Fakhreddine ben Youssef.
Despite enjoying the bulk of the possession in the second half, England created few clear-cut chances and looked as though they would be forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
But captain Kane had the last word, heading in a corner at the back post in the 91st minute. “It’s massive,” Kane said. “I’m so proud of the lads. It’s tough. We played so well, especially in the first half. We could have scored a few more.
“We kept going. It’s a World Cup, you go to the last second. I’m absolutely buzzing.”
Southgate’s young charges arrived in Russia quietly confident after a solid qualifying campaign and encouraging friendly results, determined to end a woeful run that has seen England fail to win a knockout match at a major tournament since 2006.
The manager’s lack of experience was widely discussed when he was appointed, but the former U21s coach has cultivated an atmosphere of unity and a determina- tion to bury past failures. England fans were outnumbered by Tunisian supporters in Volgograd after fewer than 2 000 tickets for the match were sold in Britain.
The England supporters were given a warm welcome in the former Stalingrad and were largely well-behaved, although two fans were charged with public drunkenness after being detained on a train.
Meanwhile, individual brilliance broke Panama’s resistance yesterday but for Belgium coach Roberto Martinez the 3-0 win was a victory for a new sense of team solidarity as his squad of precocious talents eyes World Cup glory.
Dries Mertens’s looping volley two minutes after the break was vital to settle nerves and frustration as Belgium spent a seventh successive World Cup opener with nothing on the board at half time.
“It gives you a lot of breathing space,” Martinez said. “I felt from that point on we were more ourselves, we were more in control.”
A double from Romelu Lukaku, ably assisted by Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, finished off the Central Americans in their first game at the World Cup finals.
But Martinez, hired two years ago to end a record of under-achievement for a “golden generation” of Red Devils, was as keen to stress his front line’s commitment to getting back in defence.
“There are no easy games,” he said, giving credit for their defensive composure to a Panama side who will next face England and Tunisia.
“We just got a little bit anxious but I was delighted by the way we defended,” he said.
“You couldn’t be prouder that they performed as a team and everyone showed that he’s ready to help,” the Spaniard said.
He has brought to the star-studded Belgian setup the kind of man management ideas he used to get the best out of more modest resources at Everton and Wigan Athletic in the Premier League. – AFP, Reuters