ENGLAND WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN 2018 -- MATCH ONE VS TUNISIA

GROUP G
MONDAY 18th JUNE 2018
TUNISIA 1 vs 2 ENGLAND   
[KICK OFF 7PM (BST)]
 -- Volgograd Arena, Volgograd. 

We plan to cover the England fixtures during this summers FIFA World Cup in Russia, at least we will have three games to "enjoy" and then see where we end up. Hopefully to get out of the group would be a start, then it's knock out football so as long as we don't go to penalties anything is possible. 

Our opening game takes place on Monday against Tunisia, who topped the African Group A to qualify for their 5th tournament and they are ranked No.14 in the current FIFA World Rankings as we head into the opening matches. If England can take a win here it will be a boost ahead of the other two games and the chances of escaping out of the group. Anything less than a win and we'll already be needing something from the final group game against Belgium. 

TUNISIA Ended their warm up to this World Cup with a couple of draws and a 1-0 loss to Spain.     
Last 4 games -- LDDW

ENGLAND England signed off with a comfortable 2-0 win against Costa Rica having cruised through their qualifying campaign. However we know too well that tournaments have been a different matter. 
Last 4 games -- WWDW

Teams are confirmed;

TUNISIA
Hassen (Gk),  Bronn,  Ben Youssef,  Meriah,  Maâloul,  Ben Youssef,  Khazri,  Skhiri,  Sassi,  Badri,  Sliti

Subs -- Mathlouthi (gk),  Ben Mustapha (gk),  Benalouane,  Haddadi,  Bedoui,  Khaoui,  Ben Amor,  Khalil,  Srarfi,  Khalifa,  Chaalali,  Nagguez


ENGLAND
Pickford (Gk),  Walker,  Stones,  Maguire,  Henderson,  Trippier,  Lingard,  Alli,  Young,  Kane (c),  Sterling

Subs -- Butland (gk),  Pope (gk),  Alexander-Armstrong,  Rose,  Dier,  Delph,  Livermore,  Loftus-Cheek,  Cahill,  Vardy,  Rashford,  Welbeck


Referee: Wilmar Roldán (Colombian)

HT Score --  1 (Sassi 35' p) - 1 (Kane 11').

FT Result --  1 - 2 (Kane 90').

Comment -- From a promising start with Kane tapping home after a John Stones header was saved we once again failed to build on our superiority during the first half. Tunisia see their goalkeeper go off injured soon after but a moment of stupidity by Kyle Walker concedes a penalty and it's 1-1 for half time. 

The second half and the Tunisian's seem to have a lot more confidence, as usual we lack any creativity, it's one thing having pace or possession but no one ever does anything with it oh for a Beardsley, a Hoddle or a Gascoigne. 

All the promise, all these overpaid useless lazy players, if only we could capture some of the passion shown by our neighbours, the Welsh, Scots, Irish ... very very poor effort lads and we'll be out very soon based on this ... oh but they are saved for now by Harry Kane's second in injury time. Lucky sods, but my opinion still stands, not good enough.