No excuses.. beat Tunisia the keyboard

FIRST impressions don’t always count the most at a World Cup – but Gareth Southgate cannot afford a false start.

Nothing less than a win against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday will satisfy the jury on social media.

And no excuses about finding it difficult to break down a well-organised defence, or no easy games at international level, will cut the mustard.

For what it’s worth, England haven’t always suffered when they failed to burst out of the blocks at the World Cup.

In 1966, they drew 0-0 with Uruguay in their opening game – and that tournament worked out all right for Sir Alf Ramsey.

In 1986, England lost to Portugal and drew with Morocco in their first two group matches without scoring a goal. It didn’t stop Gary Lineker winning the Golden Boot.

And in 1990, they drew 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland in Cagliari, a scrappy game which led to one Italian newspaper printing the headline: “No football please, we’re British.” Sir Bobby Robson’s team went on to reach the semi-finals.

But in the age of social media and keyboard warriors, when everyone has an opinion and the nation demands instant success, the mood will darken if England don’t beat Tunisia. It will be time for helmets and earplugs. If Southgate picks an assertive team and England perform like a country with one of the bestpaid managers, some of the highest-paid players and some of the biggest reputations at the tournament, I happen to think they will be fine on tin Monday. But I keep hearing ex-england players and pundits warning that Tunisia and Panama may not be easy to break down in the first two group games if they are disciplined, sit in and put men behind the ball.

With respect, less-fancied nations will sit deep against Brazil, Germany, Argentina or France – but they don’t make excuses about struggling to break the resistance. It’s up to England to express themselves and find a way through. It’s not good enough to shrug and say, “Ah, but Tunisia or Panama were very organised and they made it hard for us.” Absolute nonsense.

If England are serious about reaching the business end of the World Cup, they need to make a statement by winning the first two group games. No excuses,

WHEN Radio 5 Live commissioned a half-hour morning show called World Cup Breakfast With Sav, I didn’t realise the star of the show would be my mum, Valerie.

But her big-match predictions have already gained a big cult following on the BBC airwaves. Keep up the good work, mother – next stop, Broadway!

ROBBIE WILLIAMS sang live to billions at the World Cup opening ceremony (left). I’m not a specialist in Port Vale’s greatest hits, but their highestprofile fan may have executed the finest moment in the club’s history.