It was a glorified training game, mainly about acclimatisation for Thomas Tuchel’s England players; unsexy stuff like the right amount of loading, re-connecting with the manager’s principles. But the win was good, too, and it was welcome after the stodge of the March internationals, which had seen the draw against Uruguay and the loss to Japan.
With the temperature peaking at 33C and the humidity at about 40%, Tuchel played different teams in each half and both were too good for New Zealand, who will be the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup.
Tuchel would have wanted a greater margin of victory, especially after New Zealand’s 4-0 defeat against Haiti on Tuesday. But it was a useful exercise overall and, in the end, one goal was enough. It came from the player who can always be counted upon – in rain or blazing sunshine.
Harry Kane took his record tally for England to 79 goals from 113 caps with a snap of the neck muscles and a lovely flicked header in first-half stoppage time, and it is worth dwelling for a moment on the captain’s numbers for the season. In addition to the 61 goals he scored for Bayern Munich from 51 appearances, he now has six in six for his country.
The tougher tests, plainly, lie ahead. After the friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando on Wednesday, the countdown will be on for the opening match of the World Cup campaign: against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June. For England, it was a first small step forward of what they hope can be a glorious summer.
Tuchel wanted it hot, as he sought to get his players used to the North American climate, and he was not disappointed. It had been overcast in Tampa for the preceding few days, the humidity not as unbearable as it can be, a breeze actually felt. But the rays were back and Tuchel’s twin XIs felt them.
The focus fell on how Tuchel divided his resources. The headlines for the first half were Jarell Quansah at right-back and, with Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke having not yet joined up, Ollie Watkins on the right wing, which was not ideal for him. It was Morgan Rogers in the No 10 role, Jude Bellingham held back for the second period.
England were always going to dominate the ball. What could they do with it? There was plenty of promising approach work from the first half team but too often the final action was frustrating. England had chances, including two big ones before the first water break.
John Stones failed to get power and placement on a free header from a corner and Watkins dragged wastefully past the far post after running on to a Jordan Henderson free-kick up the inside-right.
Marcus Rashford was positive on the left. He had the pace and moves to hurt New Zealand and there was the moment on 34 minutes when he blazed to the byline to stand up a deep cross for Kane, whose firm header was tipped over by Max Crocombe. There was invention from Rashford although, in the final analysis, it was nearly and not quite for him.
England kept on coming. New Zealand broke out in the 27th minute through Matt Garbett and he forced Jordan Pickford into a low save, but that was it from them. Kobbie Mainoo, who had a few bursts, curled one shot high, Rashford banged another off target and England stared at a blank in the opening 45 minutes.
Kane had other ideas. If it was a nice Djed Spence cross, inswinging with plenty of pace on it from the inside left, it was an even better header from the centre-forward. He craned his neck and the ball was guided perfectly into the far corner.
The state of the recently relaid pitch was a subplot. It was harder than a typical Premier League surface and the seams were visible. There were times when the bounce looked a little unusual, the ball holding up. It was not a major factor. The stadium’s groundsman was unamused by all the attention. “There are zero concerns about the playability and safety of the field,” Trey Altman wrote on X beforehand.
Tuchel’s lineup for the second half had Tino Livramento at left-back and Nico O’Reilly in midfield. There was a first cap for Rio Ngumoha on the right wing – one of the four training players who are with the squad to cover the delayed arrival of Arsenal’s Champions League-contesting quartet. Bellingham took over the captain’s armband and there was an opportunity up front for Ivan Toney.
England raised the tempo. Ngumoha was a bright spark and Bellingham appeared determined to win his personal battle with Rogers. There were flashes of incision from him, plenty of energy. The pattern of the game did not change. England pressed hard on to the front foot; New Zealand tried to resist. It was attack versus defence.
Again, the question related to England’s cutting edge. It was not there, which was the negative from the exercise. Dan Burn looped a header inches wide after out-jumping Crocombe while Toney thought he had won a penalty after a Garbett foul only to be flagged for offside.
