Jordan Henderson congratulates Harry Kane after the captain put England ahead against New Zealand in Tampa, with both players wearing the team's red change kitImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jordan Henderson congratulates Harry Kane after the captain puts England ahead against New Zealand in Tampa

At a glance

  • England head coach Thomas Tuchel plays separate XIs in each half against New Zealand in Tampa

  • Harry Kane heads England in front just before half-time

  • Liverpool's 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha makes his debut as a second-half substitute.

  • PLAYER RATER

By
Chief football writer

England head coach Thomas Tuchel fielded entirely different teams in each half as World Cup preparations continued with a narrow victory against New Zealand in Tampa.

Harry Kane, the team's ever-reliable captain, headed his 79th England goal in 113 games just seconds before half-time.

Tuchel then made wholesale changes, electing to look at most of his squad as the countdown continued to England's opening group game against Croatia in Dallas in 17 June.

Liverpool's 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha, who is not in the 26-player World Cup squad, was given his debut to become the fifth youngest player to represent the team.

The experimental nature of Tuchel's team was reflected in a low-key affair played in searing heat, but it will have proved to be a useful acclimatisation exercise before Wednesday's final pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando.

England analysis: Tuchel examines options

Tuchel was not going to be taking too many risks in what effectively turned into a glorified training session in the baking Florida heat.

Instead, this was about giving his World Cup squad minutes as they become familiar with the testing conditions in the United States, with drinks breaks coming midway through each half, as they will in the tournament itself.

The serious action starts against Croatia.

John Stones got 45 minutes under his belt after an injury-troubled season before leaving Manchester City, the central defender still expected to be a key element of Tuchel's plans if he remains fit.

Morgan Rogers got a first crack in the 'number 10' role, but little could be read into that as Jude Bellingham - who has the 10 shirt for the tournament - took the captain's armband when he came on at the start of the second half.

One thing Tuchel did not need to learn was how important Kane is to England, as the captain proved once again he has the knack for a timely goal. A deft gliding header from Djed Spence's cross gave Kane his 67th goal of the season, just before he could put his feet up for the rest of the game.

Teenager Ngumoha showed he could have a glittering future with a lively second-half display. It was timely food for thought for Tuchel, should England suffer any injury problems before the World Cup.

The game and the result was uninspiring, but entertainment was not strictly what this penultimate World Cup friendly was about. It was primarily about getting minutes in the bank for England's players and for Tuchel to study his options against a New Zealand team who will be this World Cup's lowest-ranked side.

And on that basis, with a win to boot, this was a highly satisfactory afternoon's work.

Player of the match

Number: 9 H. Kane
Average rating 7.03
Number: 9 H. Kane
Average Rating: 7.03
Number: 31 R. Ngumoha
Average Rating: 6.72
Number: 8 E. Anderson
Average Rating: 6.01
Number: 25 D. Spence
Average Rating: 5.86
Number: 11 M. Rashford
Average Rating: 5.77
Number: 1 J. Pickford
Average Rating: 5.69
Number: 10 J. Bellingham
Average Rating: 5.61
Number: 6 M. Guéhi
Average Rating: 5.52
Number: 5 J. Stones
Average Rating: 5.41
Number: 17 M. Rogers
Average Rating: 5.37
Number: 18 A. Gordon
Average Rating: 5.33
Number: 19 O. Watkins
Average Rating: 5.32
Number: 3 N. O'Reilly
Average Rating: 5.32
Number: 12 T. Livramento
Average Rating: 5.24
Number: 26 J. Quansah
Average Rating: 5.23
Number: 24 R. James
Average Rating: 5.22
Number: 2 E. Konsa
Average Rating: 5.21
Number: 16 K. Mainoo
Average Rating: 5.21
Number: 23 J. Trafford
Average Rating: 5.17
Number: 15 D. Burn
Average Rating: 5.16
Number: 14 J. Henderson
Average Rating: 4.86
Number: 22 I. Toney
Average Rating: 4.51

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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