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')

Gareth Southgate unhappy with officiating calls during England win over Tunisia

By Giuseppe Labellarte, Reporter

Published: June 18 2018 | 22:35

Last updated: June 19 2018 | 17:57

Gareth Southgate is left unhappy about a number of contentious officiating decisions which beset England's 2-1 win over Tunisia at the 2018 World Cup.

Gareth Southgate has criticised a number of contentious officiating decisions that nearly cost England victory in their World Cup opener against Tunisia on Monday night.

Harry Kane gave the Three Lions the lead in Volgograd but Ferjani Sassi equalised from the penalty spot after Kyle Walker was penalised for an elbow on Fakhreddine Ben Youssef.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was hauled to the ground in the Tunisia box on several occasions during the Group G encounter before eventually grabbing the winning goal in injury time.

"We recovered well from a really harsh decision and kept our composure," England boss Southgate told BBC Sport following the 2-1 win over the Carthage Eagles.

"In the second half we looked for opportunities rather than throw balls into the box. Our attacking set-plays were a threat all night - we got just reward for that.

"I think if it's a penalty at one end it has to be a penalty at the other. If penalties are given for that then it's going to be an interesting tournament - there were similar offences at the other end."

VAR is in use at the World Cup for the first time this year, but the system has already come under criticism several times.