England Begin World Cup Prep With New Zealand Win

A Harry Kane goal was enough to give England a 1-0 win over New Zealand in what was a lowkey international friendly at the Raymond Jones Stadium in Tampa. 

It was never going to be a classic, with much of the pre-match attention focussed on a playing surface that had been laid just days before kick-off.

And it showed in the performance, with both sides lacking tempo as they sought to find their feet in unforgiving conditions, without risking an injury that would end their tournament before it begins.

England boss Thomas Tuchel played two completely different line-ups as he looked to put all of his squad under the spotlight in Florida. It was only the Arsenal contingent of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke who missed out, after they were rested following their Champions League final defeat last week.

And, as so often for England, it was Kane who had the telling say on the game, as he glanced home a Djed Spence cross in first-half stoppage time to give the Three Lions victory.

The second half saw an England debut for Rio Ngumoha, and the Liverpool youngster impressed with his driving runs and a willingness to take on his man.

The 17-year-old is one of a handful of supplementary training squad players and isn’t part of the final 26-man roster for the tournament, but should an injury occur in the forward ranks, Tuchel now has something to think about.

England’s final warm-up match is on Wednesday when they face Costa Rica in Orlando, a week before they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia.

As far as the bookies are concerned, the Euro 2024 runners-up will go into the tournament as third-favourites at 7/1 (PricedUp), behind Spain (5/1) and France (11/2).