Gordon scores winner as England edge New Zealand 1–0

Gordon grabs the only goal in flat England warm-up

Anthony Gordon scored the winner as England beat New Zealand 1–0 in their first World Cup warm-up match on Saturday (1). It was not the commanding performance fans might have hoped for, but a win is a win.

Thomas Tuchel was relaxed about it all. "It is excellent," he said. "It is such a nice trip for me to watch matches. I can only encourage people to go to nice places" (1). The England manager used the game to assess his options, keeping a close eye on Gordon's battle with Marcus Rashford for a starting spot.

Kane: heat won't beat us

Harry Kane has dismissed worries that high temperatures could derail England's World Cup campaign. The captain insists the heat is simply "not a factor" as the squad build towards the tournament (2). With warm-up fixtures in full swing, the message from the camp is clear – no excuses.

Fan-reaktioner

A quiet, slightly underwhelmed mood among England fans online after the 1–0 win over New Zealand. The result is fine, but plenty of supporters wanted to see more spark from a side with genuine ambitions this summer. Gordon's goal earned some love, though the Rashford versus Gordon debate is already splitting opinion.