Late winner against Tunisia eased pressure
The key moment of England’s World Cup campaign was Harry Kane’s 91st-minute winning goal against Tunisia in Volgograd in the first group game. Harry Maguire flicked on a Kieran Trippier corner to Kane who headed the ball home from close range.
“I think it was huge,” Steve Holland says. “We really had a relatively calm ride mediawise throughout the tournament. Part of that I think was because relations were good on both sides. There was a genuine effort to be supportive and work together.
“But, fundamentally, results drive that. By scoring that goal late in the game, it basically took the pressure off in the build-up to the second game [against Panama, which England won 6-1]. And at half-time in the second game, we had qualified. There was no opportunity from a media perspective of any huge significant negativity.”
Therefore, England’s assistant manager says of Kane’s second goal in the 2-1 win against Tunisia: “From that moment onwards, the positive aspects of results and performances just snowballed.
“So, that goal right at the end of the first game, I think, was massive. If we draw the game, the pressure and the build-up to the second game is different.
“And if the combined results from the first two games aren’t enough, you know you’re going into the Belgium game [the final group match] needing something and who knows what they would have delivered.
“I think it is not to be understated: the importance of that goal in the first game.”