Tunisia 1-2 England: Player Ratings
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England defeated Tunisia 2-1 at Volgograd Arena to get their 2018 World Cup campaign off to a strong start.
The Three Lions came out of the blocks flying and opened the scoring after 11 minutes. Ashley Young delivered a corner from the left towards John Stones. The central defender rose and headed towards the top-left corner. Mouez Hassen scrambled the ball away towards Harry Kane, who struck from close-range.
As the first-half went on, Gareth Southgate’s side seemed to fade and after 33 minutes, Tunisia were awarded a spot-kick – Kyle Walker penalised for pulling Fakhreddine Ben Youssef down. Ferjani Sassi stepped up and expertly finished into the bottom-right corner.
After the interval, chances came for either side and it seemed that neither could take them. However, after 90+1 minutes, Kieran Trippier drove a corner towards Harry Maguire. The central defender rose to glance the ball towards the far post and the unmarked Kane was there to head home.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker secured a brace and victory for England in their opening Group game. Southgate’s men sealed their nation’s first victory in the opening game of a major tournament for the first time since 2006
Here are the player ratings from the game:
Jordan Pickford - 6.5
Rushed out to gather Khazri’s pass after 26 minutes. Might be a bit disappointed to not save the penalty after diving the right way.
Kyle Walker - 6
Took too long to clear and gave away possession after 27 minutes. Gave away the penalty and was booked after 33 minutes.
John Stones - 7
Headed towards the top-left corner but kept out after 11 minutes. Missed from close-range after 39 minutes. Looked good on the ball.
Harry Maguire - 8
Dispossessed by Khazri after 27 minutes. Deflected Sassi’s shot wide shortly after. Header kept out by the goalkeeper after 31 minutes. Header kept out again after 39 minutes. Created an opportunity for Lingard after 43 minutes. Header saved after 51 minutes. Glanced the ball towards the far post and Kane scored after 90+1 minutes.
Kieran Trippier - 8
Created an opportunity for Maguire after 31 minutes. Delivered dangerous free-kick after 43 minutes. Sent Lingard through on goal after 44 minutes. Cross deflected wide after 60 minutes. Low free-kick drifted wide after 69 minutes.
Jesse Lingard - 7.5
Beat Hassen to the ball before cutting it across to Sterling after five minutes. Side-footed volley bounced wide after 24 minutes. Shot deflected over after 43 minutes. Beat the goalkeeper to the ball and struck wide after 44 minutes. Subbed off after 90+3 minutes.
Jordan Henderson - 7
Sent Alli down the right after three minutes. Tested the goalkeeper with a 25-yard volley. Dangerous cross too high after 57 minutes. Cross not good enough after 66 minutes.
Dele Alli - 6.5
Low ball cut out after three minutes. Jabs a pass to Lingard on the left. Subbed off after 80 minutes.
Ashley Young - 7
Cut back on to his right foot on the left and drifted a cross to the far post after 24 minutes. Delivered dangerous ball to the back post after 39 minutes. Poor cross cancelled out potential chance after 53 minutes. Failed to read Sterling’s back-heel after 64 minutes. Fired over from a free-kick after 79 minutes.
Raheem Sterling - 6.5
Scuffed wide of an open goal after five minutes. Released Trippier down the right after 18 minutes. Subbed off after 68 minutes.
Harry Kane - 9
Scored on the rebound after 11 minutes. Caught by Meriah after 68 minutes. Denied by a terrific tackle after 70 minutes. Secured a brace and England’s winner after 90+1 minutes.
Mouez Hassen - 6
Subbed off due to injury after 14 minutes.
Dylan Bronn - 6
Stopped by Sterling after 23 minutes. Penalised for handball after 31 minutes.
Yassine Meriah - 6.5
Catches Kane 25 yards out after 68 minutes.
Syam Ben Youssef - 6.5
Excellent tackle denies Kane after 70 minutes. Indecision almost let Alli through on goal after 71 minutes.
Ali Maâloul - 6
Didn’t make much of an impact.
Ellyes Skhiri - 6
Didn’t make much of an impact.
Anice Badri - 6
Didn’t make much of an impact.
Ferjani Sassi - 7
Shot deflected wide after 27 minutes. Scored from a penalty after 35 minutes.
Fakhereedine Ben Youssef - 7
Won a penalty after 33 minutes.
Wahbi Khazri - 7
Corner drifted over everyone after 23 minutes. Pass gathered by Pickford three minutes later. Dispossessed Maguire and almost carved the defence open after 27 minutes. Subbed off after 85 minutes.
Naïm Sliti - 6.5
Struck over the crossbar from around 30 yards. Shot well wide after 72 minutes. Subbed off after 73 minutes.
Farouk Ben Mustapha - 7
Came on after 14 minutes. Saved Maguire’s header after 31 minutes. Beaten to the ball by Lingard after 44 minutes. Saved Maguire’s header after 51 minutes. Indecision almost lets Alli through on goal after 71 minutes. Punched Trippier’s delivery away after 83 minutes. Conceded a goal late-on.
Mohamed Amine Ben Amor - 6
Came on after 73 minutes.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek - 6.5
Came on after 80 minutes.
Saber Khalifa - 6
Came on after 85 minutes.
Marcus Rashford - 6.5
Came on after 68 minutes. Dummied instead of shooting after 88 minutes.
Eric Dier - N/A
Came on after 90+3 minutes. Didn’t have enough time to make an impact.