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Tim Goode
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: England v Tunisia, World Cup

England took on Tunisia in their opening 2018 World Cup encounter.

Hello, and welcome to this evening’s liveblog.

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Kick off for the game is at 7pm.

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire; Trippier, Lingard, Young, Henderson, Alli; Sterling, Kane.

Tunisia starting XI: Mouez Hassen, Syam Ben Youssef, Yassine Meriah, Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, Ali Maaloul, Dylan Bronn, Ellyes Skhiri, Ferjani Sassi, Naim Sliti, Wahbi Khazri (capt), Anice Badri.

We’re under way…

Golden chance early on!

Tunisia fail to clear and Lingard’s subsequent attempt is saved by Hassen’s leg.

Tunisia v England - FIFA World Cup 2018 - Group G - Volgograd Arena England fans in the stands show their support. Adam Davy Adam Davy

England open up Tunisia nicely.

Lingard’s ball across the box finds Sterling, but the Man City man fails to connect properly with the goal at his mercy.

The flag is up for offside anyway.

ENGLAND 1-0 TUNISIA (KANE 11)

A Stones header from a corner is saved by Hassen.

However, Kane is on hand to slot home the rebound from close range.

A tearful Hassen has hurt his shoulder and is coming off.

Farouk Ben Mustapha comes on to replace him.

The ball falls to Henderson on the edge of the box.

The Liverpool man’s powerful first-time shot forces an early save for Ben Mustapha.

Tunisia make a rare attack.

Bronn sees space and sprints down the right before winning a corner.

Half chance for England.

Young crosses for Lingard at the back-post, but the Man United star’s mis-hit volley does not find the target.

Tunisia are showing a bit more ambition now.

Sassi’s shot from the edge of the area is deflected wide.

Maguire gets on the end of Trippier’s free kick, but his header is comfortably saved by Ben Mustapha.

It’s been a pretty positive opening half an hour for England.

PENALTY TO TUNISIA!

Ben Youssef goes down under a challenge from Walker as the ball is put into the box.

The ref points to the spot.

ENGLAND 1-1 TUNISIA (SASSI 35)

Pickford goes the right way and gets a touch but can only help the ball into the net as Sassi equalises.

Game on!

England are looking a bit nervy now.

A stray pass gave Tunisia a chance to attack, but the final ball is poor as Gareth Southgate’s men breathe a sigh of relief.

Tunisia are having serious problems defending set pieces.

Another moment of panic sees the ball fall to John Stones, but the defender mis-hits his finish.

It’s been an entertaining first half.

Some people are not happy with that penalty call…

The Tottenham man picked up a knock and could be about to come off.

Another chance!

Trippier plays through Lingard, who puts it past the goalkeeper, but the midfielder’s effort comes back off the post.

HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 1-1 TUNISIA

The second half has begun…

Tunisia are looking a bit more composed in this second half.

England have yet to threaten since the break.

A heavy back-pass means Ben Mustapha can only help the ball out for a corner.

Stones’ subsequent header from the cross is saved.

The replays highlight the fact that a Tunisia defender is blocking Kane as he tries to challenge for the ball. Surely the referee needs to take action there.

This second half has been less frenetic.

Neither side has had a clear-cut chance since the break.

England are dominating possession and controlling the game at the moment.

Trippier’s cross has just been deflected out for a corner.

England are still having much of the ball, but their attacks don’t the effervescence of the first half.

It’s as if that concession of a goal has sapped all the energy out of them.

Maguire fails to get on the end of Henderson’s cross.

England are looking a little short on ideas all of a sudden.

England make their first change.

Rashford replaces Sterling.

20 minutes remain.

As I type, Henderson plays a through ball to Alli, who is flagged offside.

Sliti gets a sight at goal.

However, his awful attempt from distance goes well wide.

Change for Tunisia.

Sliti is replaced by Ben Amor.

Alli is impeded on the edge of the box by Ben Youssef.

It’s a free kick in a good position.

Young curls a free kick over.

10 minutes remain.

Loftus Cheek replaces Alli, who didn’t look 100% after that knock in the first half.

Ben Mustapha is down after a collision with Stones.

It looks like he’ll be okay.

Meanwhile, Khazri comes off Khalifa.

We’re approaching injury time now.

Looks like Tunisia are going to hold on.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time…

ENGLAND 2-1 TUNISIA (KANE 90)

England seem to have won it, and predictably, it’s from a set piece.

Stones wins a header from a corner and Kane is on hand to score from close range.

FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 2-1 TUNISIA

Right, that’s all from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

You can read our report here.

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