MIXED RESULTS: HOW ENGLAND HAVE GOT ON IN WORLD CUP OPENERS SINCE 1966

1970 ROMANIA 0 ENGLAND 1

SIr ALF rAMSEY’s team started their defence of the World Cup as they finished the 1966 epic — with a win courtesy of a goal from Geoff Hurst. The West Ham man turned his opponent brilliantly inside the box before firing through the legs of goalkeeper Stere Adamache to give England victory in Guadalajara.

1982 ENGLAND 3 FRANCE 1

ENGLAND began with a bang in

Bilbao with Bryan robson scoring after 27 seconds — the fastest goal in the tournament’s history until 2002. France hit back before robson put England ahead again with a second-half header. Paul Marriner rounded off the win after capitalising on a defensive error.

1986 PORTUGAL 1 ENGLAND 0

BOBBY rOBSON had injury concerns over Gary Lineker and captain Bryan robson heading into the game in Monterrey but finished the match with fears over his defence. Despite plenty of England chances, Portugal pounced through Carlos Manuel, leaving furious manager robson to label it a ‘shocking start’.

1990 ENGLAND 1 REP IRELAND 1

GArY LINEkEr was unwell in Sardinia but capitalised on poor goalkeeping by Pat Bonner to hand England an eighth-minute lead. But Ireland fought back and earned a deserved point through kevin Sheedy. The Everton man nicked the ball off Steve McMahon and rifled into the bottom corner past Peter Shilton.

1998 ENGLAND 2 TUNISIA 0

AFTEr a shaky first half, England turned the screw after the break in Marseille. Alan Shearer’s glancing header from Graeme Le Saux’s free-kick gave Glenn Hoddle’s side the lead before Paul Scholes produced a curling effort into the top right corner from the edge of the area to put the game to bed.

2002 ENGLAND 1 SWEDEN 1

AN IFFY start to tournament football for Sven Goran Eriksson’s side in Saitama. Sol Campbell’s bullet header from David Beckham’s corner put England ahead. But Danny Mills’ poor clearance gifted possession to Everton’s Niclas Alexandersson who fired a fierce shot past David Seaman from 20 yards.

2006 ENGLAND 1 PARAGUAY 0

FAr FroM a classic performance from England’s Golden Generation, who stuttered to victory in Frankfurt. The only goal came three minutes in when Carlos Gamarra headed David Beckham’s deep free-kick into his own net. England failed to kill off the game and Paraguay grew into the second half.

2010 ENGLAND 1 USA 1

A GAME which will always be remembered for England goalkeeper rob Green’s horror moment. He allowed a tame Clint Dempsey strike from distance to squeeze through him and could only watch as the ball rolled over the line. Steven Gerrard had given Fabio Capello’s side an early lead in rustenburg.

2014 ENGLAND 1 ITALY 2

IN THE steamy heat of Manaus, goals from Claudio Marchisio and Mario Balotelli condemned roy Hodgson’s side to defeat. Daniel Sturridge’s goal, which levelled the score, is remembered for the overzealous celebrations of England physio Gary Lewin, who left the field on a stretcher with a dislocated ankle.

2018 TUNISIA 1 ENGLAND 2

HArrY KANE fired England into an early lead in Volgograd before a moment of madness from Kyle Walker, which saw him elbow Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, handed Tunisia a lifeline. Just as it looked as if the game was heading for a draw, up stepped captain Kane to nod home a 91st-minute corner to hand England a dream start.