World Cup warm-up: England out to avoid further World Cup humiliation

England supporters are realistic about their chances at the 2018 World Cup but there is some positivity heading into their opener against Tunisia on Monday night. Gareth Southgate has implemented a new way of playing and has selected a 23-man squad he hopes will attack the World Cup without fear.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a finer double act than England and major tournament heartache. The Three Lions didn’t even progress from their group in Brazil four years ago and were eliminated by Germany 4-1 in the round of 16 stage at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

England have never even made it to the semi-finals of a World Cup since 1990 but there have been some encouraging signs during Southgate’s brief tenure to suggest they can at least avoid further major tournament humiliation this summer.

The Three Lions have been drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Tunisia and Panama and should be confident of securing a top-two finish. England start their campaign against Tunisia, before facing Panama and concluding the group stage against Belgium.

Team news and odds in our match preview

Southgate will be pleased to avoid Belgium until last, in the hope of picking up two wins and some confidence ahead of their crunch match against their toughest opponents. However, it’s important not to completely overlook the likes of Tunisia and Panama.

Tunisia are competing in their first World Cup finals since 2006. Despite never progressing out of the group stage in their history, they at least showed in their final World Cup warm-up match against Spain that they will be hard to beat. Spain required an 84th-minute goal from Iago Aspas to break Tunisia down.

Nabil Maaloul’s side lost 2-0 to England in the group phase of the 1998 World Cup and will hope for better fortunes on Monday evening. All of the attention will be on the likes of Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane, but Tunisia have their own players that can cause problems when given the chance.

For England, anything other than three points would be a huge disappointment for Southgate’s side and only heap further pressure on England ahead of their final two matches. England have failed to win their opening group game at each of the last two editions of the World Cup, so it's not a foregone conclusion here.

Writer Predictions:

Martin Laurence - Tunisia 0-1 England

Ben McAleer - Tunisia 0-2 England

Josh Wright - Tunisia 0-1 England