O Captain! My Captain!

FOOTBALL’S COMING HOME!

What would England in a World Cup be if somebody didn’t utter those infamous three words? Do I really believe it? That’s something else but the fact of the matter is a young, dogged England side got their campaign up and running with a 2-1 victory over Tunisia.

Age Is Just A Number

The England gaffer’s squad selection was one of the most controversial of the campaign, second only to the exclusion of Germany’s Leroy Sane, selecting the youngest team at the tournament at 26 years old (average age) and an average of only 20 international appearances between them!

Despite being the youngest team at the tournament, they are by no means inexperienced. Full back Trent Alexander-Arnold is a shining example with the Liverpool player finishing his season with a Champions League Final at just 19 years old.

Skipper Harry Kane was undoubtedly the star of the show on his World Cup debut. Off the back of a career best season with 30 Premier League goals, the number 9 was there to put two past a sloppy Tunisian defense.

Every set piece looked like it was going to be a goal with Kane tapping in a rebound from a corner after 10 minutes and burying Harry Maguire’s flick on with just 2 minutes left to give Southgate’s men the 3 points they deserved.

The scoreline was, in every sense of the word, flattering to Tunisia with their converted penalty kick at the half hour mark their only shot on target the whole game. The African side set up camp in their own half for the remainder of the game reflected with England’s 61% possession.

BBC Sport

It was a fantastic warm up performance with the Brits facing World Cup newbies Panama on Sunday before what will surely be the group decider against Belgium on June 28th.

Is Football Really Coming Home?

Short answer? I doubt it.

It was an extremely impressive performance today and the stats back that up. England scored more than once for the first time in 10 World Cup matches since a 2-2 vs. Sweden 2006.

Moreover, they had six shots on target in the first half, their most in the opening 45 minutes of a World Cup match since the 1966 semi-final against Portugal. The same year they went on to lift the trophy!

Then look at personal performances: Kieran Trippier created six goalscoring opportunities, more than any other player has managed in the tournament.

That man again, Harry Kane, has now scored in each of his last four appearances and a total of 15 in just 25 appearances. Gary Lineker being the only other player in English history to score more in as many games.

The figures are favourable but they cannot afford to make the same mistakes against tougher opponents or they will be punished! Loose passes gave possession away very cheaply and they cannot rely solely on Kane to win games.

I still cannot fathom how Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford were not on the scoresheet and today marked 984 days since Raheem Sterling’s last goal for England. A figure that he will need to sort out soon!

Oh and there’s the small task of possibly facing two of either Belgium, Brazil or Germany.

If Gareth Southgate’s side can iron out some small creases, there is no reason why they cannot have a good run in the tournament. I am an England fan. I am proud to be British. More than that however, I am a realist and I cannot allow my mind to picture an open top bus driving through the streets of London as football makes its way home.

Or can I…?