England vs New Zealand LIVE
Harry Kane scored the only goal as England laboured to victory over New Zealand in their first of two World Cup warm-up friendlies. Thomas Tuchel named a somewhat experimental side from the off, who started well but soon wilted under the oppressive Floridian sun.
It was something of a surprise to see Kane nod Djed Spence’s cross home on the stroke of half-time to score what would prove to be the winner, after an England devoid of energy struggled to create in the dying embers of the first period. Tuchel made 11 changes at half-time, handing a senior England debut to Rio Ngumoha and also introducing the likes of Reece James, Ivan Toney, Jude Bellingham and Elliott Anderson, but despite their best efforts, the Three Lions could not increase their advantage.
England return to friendly action on Wednesday, facing Costa Rica in what will be their final pre-tournament outing. Catch up with the action from Tampa as it happened below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Oli Gent.
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England 1-0 New Zealand
So, seems that will be Livramento at left-back and O’Reilly in midfield, which is an interesting call from Tuchel.
All eyes on Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha, who is making his senior England debut.
2ND HALF: England 1-0 New Zealand
We are back underway, and Tuchel has indeed made 11 substitutions.
England second half XI: Trafford, James, Burn, Konsa, O’Reilly, Livramento, Anderson, Bellingham, Ngumoha, Toney, Gordon
Oli Gent reports
You can't lie and say that that was the greatest 45 minutes ever played, but England are ahead, and that's all that matters. Did they play well? No, not really. Did they put together some fairly nice patterns of play? Erm, some. How was that as a first audition for those players? Not amazing by any means. Let's see what the second XI has in store...
First half in pictures
Oli Gent reports
There you go. Feed the Kane and he will score. It just goes to show the importance of getting crosses into the box, as Guehi feeds Spence in plenty of space on the left, and the skipper guides a delicate, flicked header into the far corner.
He's off the mark in this World Cup camp, and that will be a huge confidence-booster not just for him, but for his manager and England fans.
HALF-TIME: England 1-0 New Zealand
And that takes us nicely into the half-time break.
GOAL! England 1-0 New Zealand | Kane '45+3
Kane nods home Spence’s cross to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time!
England 0-0 New Zealand
45+2mins: Minimal action to speak of in this period of injury time. Sixty more seconds to play.
England 0-0 New Zealand
There will be three added minutes to end this first half.
England 0-0 New Zealand
45mins: Rashford sends a lobbed pass in search of Rogers, who is making a run into the box, but Crocombe is quick off his line to put the kibosh on the attack.