World Cup

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Attendance: 41,064

World Cup | Group Stage

Jun 18, 2018 at 7pm UK

Tunisia
1-2
England

Sassi (35' pen.)

FT(HT: 1-1)

Kane (11', 90+1')

Paul Merson: 'Harry Kane poor for England in World Cup opener against Tunisia'

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter

Published: June 20 2018 | 19:19

Last updated: June 21 2018 | 20:31

Paul Merson believes that England's World Cup captain Harry Kane was "poor" against Tunisia and needs to get more involved in bringing his teammates into the game.

Former England international Paul Merson has claimed that Harry Kane was "poor" against Tunisia in the Three Lions' World Cup opener.

The 24-year-old opened the scoring in Monday night's Group G match inside the first 11 minutes before Ferjani Sassi netted a controversial equaliser from the penalty spot.

England appeared to be heading for a draw in Volgograd but the Tottenham Hotspur striker grabbed his second goal of the night in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win for the Three Lions.

Merson, who represented England at the 1998 World Cup, believes that Kane's all-round play was not good enough and needs to improve if the nation is to go far in the tournament.

"If I'm being honest - and I'm one of his biggest fans - I thought he was poor," the 50-year-old told Sky Sports News.

"He scored the two goals, but he brings more to the team than that. He's not a Gary Lineker, who would touch the ball twice and score two goals and that's what he brought to the team.

"They need Harry Kane to hold the ball up, get involved and bring other players into the game. I don't think he did that. That's being a little bit too critical and I'm thinking ahead to the knockout stages."

England's next match will be against Panama on Sunday.