Harry Kane's sublime header secured England their first win of the summer as Thomas Tuchel’s side stepped up World Cup preparations with a comfortable 1-0 victory against New Zealand in baking Florida.
The back-to-back European Championship finalists are among the favourites for glory in North America and followed warm-weather training in West Palm Beach with a friendly at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium.
Kane’s splendid effort in first-half stoppage time was the only goal of the day, but Tuchel will be encouraged by the way his two teams adapted to the 33 degrees Celsius heat during their penultimate warm-up friendly.
England’s first-half side was in control from the outset against the lowest-ranked team at this summer’s World Cup, with New Zealand fortunate to avoid conceding until the skipper scored his 67th goal of the season for club and country.
Tuchel entirely changed his team at half-time, with 17-year-old training group member Rio Ngumoha becoming the nation’s fifth-youngest debutant as England used 22 players in a game for the first time since 2004.
Scotland will make their long-awaited return to the World Cup in confident mood following a convincing 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia in New Jersey.
In a far from packed Sports Illustrated stadium in hot and humid conditions, Lawrence Shankland struck with a fine header in the fifth minute, then set up midfielder Scott McTominay for a well-worked second in the 20th minute before Che Adams added two more before the break.
Unsurprisingly, boss Steve Clarke made numerous second-half substitutions but Scotland remained in control and on top of a 4-1 win over Curacao at Barclays Hampden last weekend, his side have hit the goal trail in time for their opener against Haiti next Saturday in Foxborough – Scotland's first game in the World Cup since 1998.
There should be some caution attached to the optimism as the South Americans demonstrated why they are FIFA-ranked 76 to Scotland’s 43, but nevertheless the Tartan Army are entitled to enjoy added positivity as they look forward to seeing their side back on the big stage.
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Source: RTE
