Harry Kane heads winner as England beat New Zealand in Florida friendly
Harry Kane scored a stoppage-time header to earn England a laboured 1-0 victory over New Zealand in their World Cup warm-up match in Florida.
Thomas Tuchel utilised the fixture at the Raymond James Stadium to field two entirely different starting line-ups.
The national team manager is fine-tuning his squad ahead of a crucial tournament campaign that begins next week.
Marcus Rashford also staked his claim for a starting berth with an encouraging performance in the sweltering American heat.
Experimental line-up struggles for rhythm
The first half proved to be a drab affair as players acclimatised to the demanding weather conditions.
Tuchel opted for several surprise selections, deploying Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah in an unfamiliar right-back role.
Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins was also asked to operate out of position on the right wing.
He stepped in to cover for Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, who will join the travelling party on Sunday.
Spence creates opening for captain
Despite the disjointed performance, the deadlock was finally broken just before the half-time whistle.
Djed Spence, sporting a protective mask for a broken jaw, delivered a precise cross from the left flank.
The Bayern Munich marksman made no mistake, nodding the ball home to give his side the advantage.
Stones returns as second string impress
Manchester City centre-back John Stones successfully completed 45 minutes following an injury-disrupted domestic season.
Wholesale changes at the interval saw Tino Livramento and Nico O’Reilly introduced to the action for the second period.
The latter stages offered a slightly more entertaining spectacle, although neither goalkeeper was heavily troubled.
The Three Lions will now hope to build momentum from this gritty win as they prepare for their opening group fixture.