Russia 2018: Can Tunisia Survive England?

A FIFA World Club clash Tunisia will be Gareth Southgate's first major tournament as England manager.

 The England boss played two games at the World Cup in 1998, including against Tunisia, and he will be aiming to repeat the 2-0 victory that day, secured by goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes.

Tunisia will be suitable opponents to test England. Hard to break down and tidy in possession, their style is one England have struggled against before. They have the longest active World Cup winless streak of any side competing in Russia, with no win in 11, but they qualified undefeated. Their only loss so far in 2018 came against Spain, a creditable 1-0 defeat that was not settled until the 84th minute.

VIEW FROM BOTH CAMPS

Tunisia head coach Nabil Maaloul: "We are in form. We know very well we are in an extremely tough group but we have raised our game, especially in terms of our athleticism.

"Everyone has seen how well we have played in the warm-ups. We are determined to go down in history."

England manager Gareth Southgate: "We have been working on a system of play we think suits the players we have available and the style of play we want to implement.

"Everyone at home wants England to win but they want to see them play well and enjoy their football and that's what I want as a coach."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Tunisia and England last met in their opening group stage game of the 1998 World Cup. England won 2-0 in Marseille.
• Their only other meeting was a friendly in 1990 which ended 1-1.

Tunisia

• Tunisia have failed to win their last 11 games at a World Cup since triumphing in their first ever match against Mexico in 1978.
• It was the first match won by an African side at the World Cup.
• They are in a first World Cup since 2006, but have yet to reach the knockout stage in four previous attempts.
• Tunisia have only kept one clean sheet in 12 games at this tournament, a 0-0 draw with West Germany in 1978.
• The Carthage Eagles ended the qualifying stage unbeaten and conceded just four goals in six matches in the final group.
• Tunisia are 21st in the Fifa rankings, the highest of any African team.

England

• England have never lost against an African team at the World Cup (W3, D3).
• They have topped their group just once in their last five World Cups, in 2006.
• England's 11 goalless draws at the World Cup is a tournament record.
• They conceded just three goals in qualifying - the joint best record in Europe along with Spain.
• England are the only side in Russia with every squad member playing in the domestic league.
• This is England's sixth finals appearance in a row, equalling their longest streak in the competition.
• Since winning the World Cup in 1966, England have progressed past the quarter-finals just once, finished fourth in 1990.
• They have not scored more than one goal in their last nine World Cup games

Courtesy of the BBC News.