Harry Kane’s header gave England a 1-0 win over New Zealand in their first World Cup warm-up game in Tampa, Florida.
In a low-key encounter in hot and humid conditions at the Raymond James Stadium, Kane scored the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time when he flicked home Djed Spence’s teasing cross from the left.
With the temperature at 32 degrees Celsius in the heat of the afternoon, Thomas Tuchel used the fixture to acclimatise his squad to the weather and changed his entire team at the interval.
England should have been further ahead by then having attempted 14 shots to New Zealand’s two in the first period, but their finishing was wayward, with Ollie Watkins dragging a good chance wide and Marcus Rashford and John Stones also spurning opportunities.
England continued to dominate against the World Cup’s lowest-ranked team in the second half, with Tuchel giving a debut to Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, one of four young players to have joined the squad for their tournament preparations.
As in the first half, though, they were unable to capitalise on their openings, despite a lively showing from Ngumoha and a couple of dangerous moments from Jude Bellingham.
Despite not adding to their one-goal lead, it was a successful outing for England, who avoided injuries on the patchy playing surface and gained invaluable exposure to the conditions.
The game also allowed Kane to show his scoring touch. His headed strike was his 79th for England and follows a stunning, 61-goal campaign with Bayern Munich at club level.
England’s next warm-up game is against Costa Rica on Wednesday before their tournament opener against Croatia on June 17.
Keane: Kane has to be England’s main man
Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane backed Kane to be England’s main man at the tournament after the game.
“If England really believe they can win the World Cup, and they do, Harry Kane is the main man,” he said on ITV.
“The pressure comes with that and can sometimes lead to fatigue.
“He’s learned a lot playing for Bayern, but with his experience he doesn’t need to be coming back into his own half, especially in the heat.
“He’s the best in the world at this moment in time, and if England want to win the trophy he’s the main man.”
Kane: I’m in best shape of my career
Harry Kane told ITV: “Physically, mentally, it’s the best shape I’ve been in in my career.
“We’re going into a tough environment, a tough tournament, but I’m excited for it.
“The World Cup is the biggest tournament of all and I just can’t wait for it to get started.”
On the game, he added: “A good win. It’s not easy. The heat itself is what we’re here for, to prepare for that. The pitch wasn’t great to be honest. It was really hard to play the way we want to play.
“But this is why we’re here, to adapt to it. We played against a team that had a good low block. In the end we could have scored a couple more but we take the win and we know we’re here for preparation more than the result.”
Ollie Watkins in action for England against New Zealand
Tuchel: I preferred the second half
Thomas Tuchel told ITV: “I was happy with the second half. We had more hunger, grit and desire in the second half but didn’t score.
“We weren’t so disciplined and played according to our plan in the first half, which slowed up our game.
“But to put it into context, a lot of the players were last with us in November and missed the last March camp.
“We will get with the time that we are out here used to the humidity and the sun.
“Now the most positive thing is to keep training with the whole group. We have no complaints and no-one is injured.
“Tomorrow will be a recovery day, then Costa Rica where a chunk of players will get more minutes.
“The Arsenal players are in which gives us quality and energy, and after that game we have one and a half days off and prepare for Croatia.”
What’s next?
England’s last warm-up game before the World Cup comes against Costa Rica on Wednesday, kick-off 9pm.
The Three Lions then begin their tournament against Croatia in Arlington, Texas on June 17, kick-off 9pm.
