It’s Harry Kane season
Twice wrestled to the ground during the match, England captain Harry Kane finally evaded the Tunisian defense 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 Volgograd.
It was relief for Kane and Gareth Southgate, who leaped 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 11thminute tap-in. But after Kyle Walker softly conceded a penalty that Ferjani Sassi converted in the 35th, many of the fouls went against England.
“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 with a loss to Iceland in the last 16.
The team has been transformed since then. 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.”
At the last World Cup, England couldn’t even win a game. Low expectations for this year’s overhauled team were dispelled early when Kane reacted quickly to score after John Stones’ header was saved. But England struggled to finish it off.
When Walker’s flailing arm caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, a penalty was awarded and Sassi slotted it in to equalize.
England players thought they deserved the same verdict when Kane was grappled to the ground twice. Both times, the referee decided against penalties.
Kane remained patient and delivered in the first minute of stoppage time.
“You go until the last second,” Kane said, “and I’m absolutely buzzing.”
Sweden 1, South Korea 0: Sweden got the break it needed from the video review system, and team captain Andreas Granqvist didn’t waste the chance, sliding his penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net in the 65th minute at Nizhny Novgorod.
The Swedes, in their first World Cup since 2006, were awarded the penalty after referee Joel Aguilar consulted a video screen on the sideline. Aguilar 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.
It was the third penalty to be awarded because of a video review in the first 12 games at this year’s World Cup. The review system, making its World Cup debut, appears to be working.
“We do agree that it was a good call,” South Korea coach Shin Tae-yong said.
Sweden is tied for first place in Group F with Mexico, which beat Germany 1-0. The Swedes next face the Germans on Saturday, while South Korea plays Mexico.
Belgium 3, Panama 0: Unlike the other favorites that struggled through their opening matches, Belgium looked every part the title contender in Sochi against a team making its World Cup debut, as Romelu Lukaku scored twice in a six-minute span in the second half, after Dries Mertens’ perfectly struck volley gave the Red Devils the lead.
Belgium is unbeaten in its last six World Cup openers, dating to 1986.