Tunisia vs England: The best value lies in assuming Tunisia will frustrate England before caving in

Tunisia vs England: The best value lies in assuming Tunisia will frustrate England before caving in

The onus will then be on England players in the creative roles at the front of midfield to break Tunisia down.

ENGLAND kick their World Cup campaign off with what would seem a relatively straight-forward opponent in Tunisia.

The African side will have other ideas though as they bid to build on Sunday’s shocks – Mexico beating Germany and Switzerland holding Brazil.

We’ve asked expert tactician Jonathan Wilson to follow English throughout Russia, while FourFoutTwo Arabia Editor Ali Khaled has been tasked with tracking Tunisia.

Fixture: Tunisia vs England

Kick-off: 7pm, June 18

Venue: Volgograd Arena

Favourites: England (4/9)

Wilson: There is a strange atmosphere around England heading into this World Cup. There has been no panic about the fitness of a key player, no hasty reshuffling of tactics after a couple of iffy friendly performances. Rather there is a sense of reasonableness and calm, in part rooted in a run of 10 games without defeat – some of them friendlies against big sides – and in part in the personality of the coach, Gareth Southgate.

He has been clear on how he wants to play and how he will pick his squad since qualification was secured, and that has meant a minimum of controversy as he has stuck to his principles.

Khaled: The two teams met at the 1998 World Cup in France, with England winning 2-0. Many will be expecting a similar result on Monday night in Volgograd.

Tunisia will realistically see their last group match against Panama on June 28 as their best hope of getting three points, and perhaps an unexpected qualification to the round of sixteen.

For that to happen they will almost certainly need to grab at least a point against England or Belgium. Playing for a draw from the outset, however, might not be the best way to go about it.

Nabil Maaloul will need to find the right balance between attack or defence, which will not be easy.

Where the game will be won

Wilson: England will set up with a back three, but the only question is the make-up of the midfield and forward line. Southgate seems to be edging towards a 3-5-2 with just one holder, at least for the opening game against a Tunisia side likely to sit deep.

Marcus Rashford was excellent in the 2-1 win over Nigeria, but Raheem Sterling will probably still be selected as the partner for Harry Kane, with Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard as the two more aggressive central midfielders.

Khaled: With odds against them in this Group G opener, Tunisia have little to lose here and should approach the game with a positive frame of mind…

While it is essential that Tunisia keep it tight at the back, sitting back and inviting England to attack could be asking for trouble, with Gareth Southgate’s men recently showing a greater capacity to keep possession than previously seen from Three Lions teams.

The recent 2-2 draw with Portugal also showed a Tunisian central defence not entirely comfortable with dealing with crosses pinned into the penalty area, something that the likes of Harry Kane and England’s big centrebacks will look to exploit.

With that in mind Tunisia should at least play to their strengths. England will be going all out for a win, and chances are that Tunisia will need to score to get something out of this match.

With talisman out Youssef Msakni out through injury, Tunisia will look to the twin attacking threat of Wahbi Khazri and Naim Sliti to create chances in the final third.

England’s increasing preference for three centre-backs, of which the speedy Kyle Walker has excelled, could mean the Tunisian forwards’ trickery on the ball might not be enough to cause England trouble down the middle on the day.

The battle between attacking fullbacks of Ali Maaloul and Hamdi Nagguez and England’s wingbacks, then, could be intriguing.

Key men

Wilson: The likelihood is for England to dominate possession, and if they do not score an early goal, that could mean a frustrating game. The onus will then be on those players in the creative roles at the front of midfield to break Tunisia down.

Alli’s understanding with Kane, built up over the years at Tottenham, could be vital in offering the speed of thought to unlock a packed rear-guard, but England also have the option of going wide. Kieran Trippier and Ashley Young, if they are the pair selected at wing-back, are both excellent crossers of a ball, which could bring the aerial ability of Kane and Alli into play.

Khaled: With 12 goals in 36 internationals, Wahbi Khazri is easily Tunisia’s best attacking weapon in Russia.

His experience of playing in the English Premier League with Sunderland should come in handy though conversely he will not be unknown quantity for the England defenders.

Expect him to be at the heart of most of Tunisia’s best moments.

Outcome

Wilson: England have played Tunisia twice before: in a 1-1 draw in a friendly just before the 1990 World Cup, when a late Steve Bull equaliser saved them from defeat, and in a 2-0 win in their opening group game at the 1998 World Cup, when Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes got a goal in each half of a 2-0 victory.

A similarly tight, hard-fought game seems likely here. It could be worth ditching correct scores (2-0 England feels about right) or perhaps the best value lies in assuming Tunisia will frustrate England till half-time: draw at half-time, England to win by full-time is a very attractive 4.25.

Prediction: Draw at half-time

Khaled: England have been in fine form recently and come into the tournament with bags of confidence and, crucially, without the usual weight of expectation. Tunisia will fancy their chances of causing an upset, but England should prevail in the end.

Prediction: England 2-1 Tunisia

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