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Alan Smith

England vs New Zealand LIVE: Harry Kane goal gives Three Lions victory in labourious World Cup warm-up

England vs New Zealand LIVE

  • England face New Zealand in Tampa in World Cup warm-up | Live on ITV
  • England first half XI: Pickford; Quansah, Stones, Guehi, Spence; Henderson, Mainoo; Rashford, Rogers; Kane, Watkins.
  • England second half XI: Trafford; James, Konsa, Burn, Livramento; Bellingham, Anderson, O'Reilly; Ngumoha, Toney, Gordon.
  • GOAL! England 1-0 New Zealand (Kane, 45+3)

What pleased Tuchel

06:45 , Alan Smith

"I was more happy with the second half, we had more hunger, more grit, more desire,” he told ITV.

“We didn't score but second half was better. Harry [Kane] scored only goal in the first half. We lacked discipline in the first half, came out of position and didn't stick to the plan. That slowed our game actually down. To put it into context the last time we were in together was November. It's quite a long time, it's the first game after the season."

Bellingham on where this squad ranks

05:45 , Alan Smith

"Its a good mix - experience and youth in there and players who haven't come with us before all of that makes for a good mix,” he told ITV at full-time in Tampa.

“We have quality in abundance. Senior players like the skipper, Hendo, Stones and Picks we can go a long way."

World Cup 2026 squads: Every player at this summer’s tournament

04:45 , Alan Smith

Your guide to all 48 squads headed to North America.

How Messi and Ronaldo can still define World Cup despite their waning powers

03:45 , Miguel Delaney

On 11 July in Kansas City, there’s a fixture that many at the top of Fifa are already giddy about. Barron Trump is even said to have noted it.

Right now it’s just the quarter-final between the winners of matches 95 and 96, but it could well become the first World Cup meeting between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Should Argentina and Portugal both win their groups and proceed, that is where Messi and Ronaldo would come together, six tournaments on from their 2006 World Cup debuts and a collective 48 appearances so far, with more history to be made to stand among the immortals. The first meeting will also be the last, if this is indeed to be the final World Cup for both players.

Pele, Maradona or Messi at No 1? The 50 greatest players in World Cup history

02:45 , Alan Smith

The Independent’s top team of sports writers have voted - and reached an almost unanimous verdict on who the greatest player in World Cup history is.

But who are the next best 49 behind him in the tournament’s 96-year history?

Read the countdown right here.

Kane in tip top shape

01:45 , Alan Smith

"I think physically, mentally, it's the best shape I have been in in my career,” the England captain says ominously after a 67th goal of the season for club and country.

“We're going into a tough environment, a tough tournament, I'm excited for it. The World Cup is the biggest tournament of all and I'm looking forward to it getting started really."

Kane plays down heat concerns

01:15 , Alan Smith

Speaking to BBC Radio, he says: "The drinks breaks help. A lot of people are talking about the heat but I don't think it's going to be as big a factor as what some people say. Me personally and a few of of the boys who have been training for a while in it felt fine today. We're all athletes, we're all professionals and have played in warm weather conditions before."

Bellingham plays down injury fears

00:45 , Alan Smith

The Real Madrid midfielder said: "I'm feeling good off the back of a tough season with a couple of injuries for the first time in my career. I feel strong, I feel better than I did at the start of the season. I'm feeling excited and ready."

What next for Tuchel

23:55 , Alan Smith

"We will acclimatise to the humidity and the sun whilst we are here,” he said.

“The most positive thing is we can keep training with the whole group because no one is injured. We have no complaints. Tomorrow will be recovery game, then we have two days to prepare for Costa Rica.

“Then a chunk of players will get more minutes. The Arsenal players are in from today which is good because it gives us energy and quality and then we have another one and a half days off. The we go to Kansas and prepare for Croatia."

Tepid but a win and clean sheet - match verdict

23:50 , Alan Smith

Here is Richard Jolly’s snap verdict on what went down in Tampa this evening as Tuchel finds few answers to his remaining questions.

Tuchel's initial judgment

23:43 , Alan Smith

"First of all, I'm happy no one is injured and we had four good training sessions,” he told ITV.

“We had this split game for everyone with 45 minutes in the heat on a very difficult pitch. It is not easy, we have a win, we have a clean sheet. We can keep on going, the energy is right. The quality will come, I think the better the opponent gets the better we will get. We tried to score and score."

Tepid warm-up offers Tuchel few answers

23:22 , Richard Jolly

It was the least surprising of lessons to take. Harry Kane can score goals. After 61 this season for Bayern Munich, after 78 before in England’s colours, another came in Florida to defeat New Zealand. The problem is that such games, so close to a World Cup, are supposed to produce more meaningful conclusions.

And there weren’t too many. Some 22 players got a cap; a first in the case of Rio Ngumoha, although, barring an ill-timed injury to anyone else, the 17-year-old won’t be at the World Cup anyway. Few really enhanced their chances, and maybe only one in a way that might alter Thomas Tuchel’s thinking when it comes to his starting 11 against Croatia in Dallas.

That was Marcus Rashford who, at the risk of damning him with faint praise, was livelier than most; his skill during a staccato run on the left led to a Kane chance. He whipped in two shots in a minute, though neither was on target. It wasn’t spectacular, but at least it ranked as encouraging.

 (Getty)
(Getty)

Bellingham on the conditions

23:18 , Alan Smith

And here is the man who wore the armband for the second half on the pitch and weather.

"We are going to have to manage the game well at times,” he says. “We want to play that full force, high pressing, high tempo football which is difficult in the heat and with the pitches. Both sets of players made a great effort to get out of the game what we had to do before the tournament so we are pleased."

Kane on the conditions

23:14 , Alan Smith

“It's not easy,” he tells ITV. “The heat is what we’re here for, to prepare for the tournament. The pitch wasn’t great, to be honest, it was really hard to play in the way that we want to play, but this is why we're here to adapt to it.”

'A pre-season friendly'

23:03 , Alan Smith

On ITV Roy Keane describes it as a “pre-season friendly” and he is right on the money. Sure, it was not pretty but England ticked the right boxes and it will only have done them good with 11 days to go before the real business gets underway.

Stay tuned for all the reaction.

FULL-TIME! England 1-0 New Zealand

22:58 , Alan Smith

And that’s that for England’s first warm up. Harry Kane’s goal earns a win, a clean sheet is kept and all 22 players have emerged unscathed on the injury front.

It was slow, disjoined and uneventful but Tuchel will be relatively pleased.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:57 , Alan Smith

90+3’ - James’ persistence down the right earns a throw-in. It leads to some cheers. That is how low the bar has dropped this evening.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:54 , Alan Smith

90’ - There will be four minutes added on. Konsa has gone down with a knock but should hopefully be OK to continue.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:50 , Alan Smith

87’ - Gordon tries his luck and his luck is not in, a long-range effort easily saved. Presumably we’ll get the minimum of three added minutes upon the strike of 90 and after that we can all move on with our lives and a day closer towards meaningful action.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:48 , Alan Smith

84’ - Five more NZ changes, including a change of goalkeeper.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:45 , Alan Smith

82’ - Bellingham shimmies on the edge of the area, turning left then right, but sends his shot off target.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:43 , Alan Smith

79’ - New Zealand win a corner from little. De Vries’ first act is to take it and the inswinger is caught by Trafford, which is irrelevant because the referee says there was a foul by a New Zealand player in the box and England have a free kick.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:41 , Alan Smith

78’ - That second corner sees Toney divert off target.

New Zealand make two more changes: Just is replaced by De Vries, Wood is off and Barbarouses is in for him.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:40 , Alan Smith

76’ - Ngumoha goes through a set of stepovers and wins a corner. James’ delivery finds Burn and his header is deflected out for another corner.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:36 , Alan Smith

73’ - In the stands the England fans are singing “Scotland get battered...” Scotland, meanwhile, are winning 4-0 against Bolivia in their friendly.

Bellingham has a shot blocked after Godron shifts in from the left.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:34 , Alan Smith

71’ - We’re back underway but if you’re not watching on TV it is worth pointing out that the current commentary chat is listing out the different nicknames for New Zealand sports teams. Only because so little is occurring on the pitch.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:31 , Alan Smith

67’ - It’s drinks’ break time again. On the bench several England players who turned out in the first half are watching on after what can only presume was a very cold shower.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:27 , Alan Smith

64’ - A total of 25,889 fans have turned up to watch this.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:25 , Alan Smith

60’ - Toney goes down and the referee points to the spot but, hold on,. one of the assistants raises their flag to signal offside. Replays show it wouldn’t have remained a penalty following a VAR check anyway because Toney went down softly.

A series of New Zealand substitutions are coming. Garbett, Payne, Cacace are off. Old, Randall, Bindon are on.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:21 , Alan Smith

58’ - Toney wins a free kick in dangerous territory. But James’ strike clatters off the wall.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:20 , Alan Smith

57’ - The intensity, already low, has dropped further but England do look more dangerous and New Zealand appear to be tiring quickly.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:15 , Alan Smith

52’ - Gordon looks lively enough early on but that’s being underlined by the rest of the players barely breaking into a jog under such a searing heat.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:12 , Alan Smith

49’ - Burn hits the post from a corner. James’ delivery results in some ping pong and it ends with the Newcastle defender heading off the upright and wide.

England 1-0 New Zealand

22:10 , Alan Smith

48’ - We’re three minutes into an uneventful start to the second period and the substitutes are still being rolled out on the TV graphics.

Rufer is on for Bell in New Zealand’s only change.

Restarted! England 1-0 New Zealand

22:08 , Alan Smith

46’ - We’re back underway. It’s a debut for Ngumoha, Bellingham wears the armband and O’Reilly will be in midfield.

England’s second half XI

22:05 , Alan Smith

Trafford; James, Konsa, Burn, Livramento; Bellingham, Anderson, O'Reilly; Ngumoha, Toney, Gordon.

Half-time! England 1-0 New Zealand

21:50 , Alan Smith

And that’s the break in Tampa.

GOAL! England 1-0 New Zealand (Kane, 45+3)

21:49 , Alan Smith

Just as fans were looking towards the concourse for a half-time refreshment, the England captain scores with a glancing header. Spence does well to find him with a cross from the left and the finish is excellent, even if the defending is awful.

GOAL! England 1-0 New Zealand (Kane)

21:49 , Alan Smith

Just as fans were looking towards the concourse for a half-time refreshment, the England captain scores with a glancing header. Spence does well to find him with a cross from the left and the finish is excellent, even if the defending is awful.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:47 , Alan Smith

45’ - Three minutes added time. The minimum considering the drink break.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:46 , Alan Smith

44’ - More England possession at walking pace. Rogers eventually dribbles the ball out for a goal kick under pressure.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:42 , Alan Smith

41’ - Rashford has a pop from just outside the ‘D’. It’s well off target but it is at least a sign of intent.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:40 , Alan Smith

38’ - The intensity has dropped noticeably now. Spence and Rashford have looked good but, unsurprisingly, it seems futile to read too much into this.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:36 , Alan Smith

35’ - Now on the left, Rashford dances past Payne and finds Kane with a floated ball in. The marksman’s header is touched over the bar. From the ensuing corner New Zealand clear as far as England’s defence, who recycle possession again.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:33 , Alan Smith

32’ - Rashford flies down the right but his low cross cannot find a finisher.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:31 , Alan Smith

29’ - The All Whites have a solid enough spell of possesion but their lack of quality is evident when Boxall needlessly kicks the ball out for a throw in. Moments later England attack, Spence enjoying acres down the left before the move ends with Mainoo bending high and wide.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:29 , Alan Smith

27’ - Peterborough’s Matt Garbett has a shot that Pickford hesitates over before saving.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:27 , Alan Smith

25’ - We’re back underway.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:24 , Alan Smith

22’ - Time for the drink break. And in the background we can hear the first chorus of ‘Football’s coming home’ before the PA system drowns it out.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:22 , Alan Smith

21’ - Rashford’s corner is cleared to Spence on the edge of the area. His shot from 25 yards is blocked.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:22 , Alan Smith

20’ - Another good diagonal from Henderson leads to a brief moment of panic among New Zealand’s defence but England are unable to capitalise. From the next phase Rogers’s cross brings a corner out of Boxall, who stares down at the pitch in disgust. Replays showed it took an hilarious bounce.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:19 , Alan Smith

17’ - Kane has his first sighter. It’s from well out but he puts it on target and it’s full of power, bringing a save from the New Zealand keeper.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:17 , Alan Smith

16’ - Rogers fires high and wide after an odd bobble from the ball on this pitch.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:15 , Alan Smith

14’ - Watkins breaks down the inside right thanks to a fantastic pass from Henderson but the Villa striker scuffs wide. It’s a good move, it’s final part poorly executed.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:13 , Alan Smith

11’ - New Zealand have made three forays forward so far, all with Chris Wood at the heart of it on the break. None have caused Pickford panic because the final ball has been dreadful but top sides would have made mincemeat of such slack England defending.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:10 , Alan Smith

8’ - Another England corner. This one following a deflection from a Henderson diagonal.

Rashford, going off the early evidence, looks in decent nick and from this set piece he finds John Stones, whose header is blocked. He had so much time and space that he probably should have scored.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:06 , Alan Smith

4’ - Watkins is on the right flank owing to no other option until the Arsenal crew join the squad, with Kane up front by himself in a 4-3-3. Rashford is on the opposite wing.

England are passing it about under little pressure for now, although Henderson has had a pop from way, way, way out that is blocked.

England 0-0 New Zealand

21:03 , Alan Smith

1’ - Inside a minute England have a corner after Spence’s long diagonal is hacked awkwardly out of play by Cacace.

Rashford’s delivery is headed clear.

Kick-off! England 0-0 New Zealand

21:01 , Alan Smith

1’ - And Kobbie Mainoo gets us going, playing from left to right as we watch. The primary camera angle is annoyingly off centre.

Almost time

20:56 , Alan Smith

The players are walking out and the atmosphere is, well, muted. Unsurprising considering a majority of seats are empty.

Tuchel's pre-match chat

20:45 , Alan Smith

On the pitch, he tells ITV (with a smile): “We’ve decided to blame the pitch if things don’t go well... New Zealand said it doesn’t look good but it’s playable. Let’s see.”

On changing his team at the break and the weather conditions: “Let’s see what we can produce. Now is the first really, really hot day. We’re looking forward to it. I see no problem why we shouldn’t implement our high press, ball speed and have a lot of possession.”

How will Watkins and Kane combine? “Ollie fills in on the right wing because Noni and Bukayo are not in camp.”

How hot?

20:37 , Alan Smith

It is presently 32c in Tampa, though at least no threat of thunderstorms.

Rogers on World Cup excitement

20:23 , Alan Smith

“I’m so excited, it’s a young boy’s dream,” he tells ITV. “This is the first test and I’m looking forward to it.”

And what about the weather? “It’s hot, it’s hot for everyone. The job is to be in the best possible shape when the first game comes. We’re going to have to push ourselves to the limit. Strategy will be a big thing at this tournament. Every player deals with it differently. It’s about getting acclimatised it.”

Elsewhere today

20:20 , Alan Smith

Plenty of other teams are in action tonight and co-hosts USA have gone a goal down to Germany inside two minutes thanks to Kai Havertz. Overnight Canada drew with Ireland, who were not doing much for climate change by flying across for one friendly, while Belgium put five without reply past Tunisia and Saudi Arabia beat the mighty Puerto Rico 3-0.

Goals, goals, goals?

20:12 , Alan Smith

This is the first time Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins will have started together and a quick scan of the statistics for this front four shows they have scored close to 120 goals between them this season.

Sure, more than 60 of those belong to Kane but it could prove to be a fun opening 45 minutes before Tuchel changes things up at the break.

New Zealand XI confirmed

20:05 , Alan Smith

Here is how the All Whites line up with Tim Payne (of social media fame) and Chris Wood in from the start.

More pitch talk

20:02 , Alan Smith

Pictures indicate that this playing surface is, well, far below what these players would normally expect.

But here is an alternative take from what appears to be the top groundsman, in the interest of balance.

England XI confirmed

19:51 , Alan Smith

Pickford; Quansah, Stones, Guehi, Spence; Henderson, Mainoo; Rashford, Rogers; Kane, Watkins.

Formation? To be confirmed when the game kicks off but it seems likely to be some sort of 4-2-4.

England in red

19:49 , Alan Smith

For those of you interested in such things, England will tonight be wearing their red change strip - a fitting choice considering the colours of their hosts, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cole's key to World Cup glory

19:38 , Alan Smith

Former England international Joe Cole believes the national team's prospects at the upcoming 48-team World Cup in North America could hinge on their ability to "master the arts" of set-pieces.

"Fifa have come out and said that they’re going to be stringent, they’re going to be pulling up on things," Cole told the Press Association. "The referees have lost it in the last two years, and it’s allowed for some nonsense to go on, actually.”

However, he cautioned: "But if Fifa don’t crack down on it and let it go and it be a free-for-all, then the team that masters the arts best will be in with a better chance. But it sounds like they’re going to be a little bit more strict on it, they’re always important, most set-pieces."

Blink and you'll miss it

19:32 , Alan Smith

A leading sleep expert has warned England’s players to stay away from sleeping pills as they aim for World Cup glory this summer.

Sleep expert James Wilson, who has worked at Coventry, West Ham, Rotherham and Lincoln and is known as the ‘Sleep Geek’, said the pills are counter-productive for good sleep.

“Based on talking to players, both in the men’s and women’s game, I just hope people aren’t taking sleeping pills,” he told the Press Association.

“Because sleeping pills don’t give you recovery sleep. What you’re getting is sedation, it knocks you out.

“They are not generally good for your sleep and they are not good for recovery so that is why they are not a good idea in football.”

Tuchel on Arsenal absentees

19:25 , Alan Smith

“I think there is no need to be overly disappointed and to carry it into the World Cup campaign,” Tuchel said of the Premier League champions after their penalty loss to PSG a week ago.

“I don’t see that. I will see them tomorrow, and I think it will be no issue to lift them if needed.”

Missing stars and new faces

19:18 , Alan Smith

England have arrived in Tampa with a 27-man squad, including uncapped training group members Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha, Josh King and Ethan Nwaneri along with training goalkeeper Jason Steele.

They have helped fill gaps left by Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze after the quartet had the week off following Arsenal’s Champions League final loss to Paris Saint Germain last Saturday.

Tuchel on Florida surface

19:12 , Alan Smith

“I just saw it now,” the England boss said on Friday night. “It will not affect my team selection because what I have heard until now is that it should be OK and we want it, of course, to be OK.

“I saw just a photo from your colleague that made me a little bit worried and concerned, but let’s decide when we are there.

“If there are any issues, we can always react to it. The plan is tomorrow to play 45, 45 minutes with two complete teams, to expose everyone to the same amount of minutes.

“Then we can continue the next three days with the same load of training. That is the plan, and at the moment we stick to the plan.”

Special report - Inside the world of Gianni Infantino: ‘The ass-kissing of Trump got us nowhere’

19:05 , Miguel Delaney

If Gianni Infantino is unlikely to now tell us how he feels before this World Cup, we can see how he is when he’s in Donald Trump’s presence.

The Fifa president looks excited. The hand is often extended from the heart, in that classic gesture of the evangelising Blair-like statesman. Trump smiles on, two leaders together. Those who have been close to such meetings say it is a mix of “fawning and adoration” from Infantino, which is also why there is increasing disquiet among numerous senior Fifa figures. They don’t like how this has been going.

The relationship is one of a few areas where even someone as brazen as Infantino might now be caught in a bind.

Delve into the full story here.

Are big name coaches right for a World Cup?

18:59 , Alan Smith

Thomas Tuchel and Carlo Ancelotti are the most prominent examples of a notable shift in international football, but the last few winners have been relative nobodies, writes Miguel Delaney in his latest Inside Football newsletter

 (PA)
(PA)

Thomas Tuchel concerned over patchwork pitch for England’s World Cup warm-up

18:48 , Mike Jones

Thomas Tuchel is a “little bit worried and concerned” about the patchwork pitch awaiting England in Tampa but says it will not impact his team selection for Saturday’s friendly against New Zealand.

The back-to-back European Championship finalists landed in Florida at the start of the week to start acclimatising to the hot and humid conditions facing teams at this summer’s World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel concerned over patchwork pitch for England’s World Cup warm-up

Latest odds

18:42 , Mike Jones

Betting sites have England as the big favourites to win this World Cup warm-up match with preparations for the tournament underway ahead of the first match on June 11.

England to win - 1/9

Draw - 10/1

New Zealand to win - 33/1

The Independent vets betting sites for useability, security and responsible gambling tools. Please read the terms.

England vs New Zealand predicted line-ups

18:36 , Mike Jones

England XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Mainoo; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

New Zealand XI: Crocombe; Payne, Surman, Bindon, Cacace; Stamenic, Rufer; Just, McCowatt, Randall; Wood.

New Zealand's early team news

18:30 , Mike Jones

New Zealand may welcome back Joe Bell who missed their previous outing with a leg injury but Ryan Thomas is set to remain absent.

Tim Payne, the World Cup’s so-called “least known player” who has since gone mega-viral, is set to start.

England's early team news

18:24 , Mike Jones

Thomas Tuchel’s squad is yet to be at full strength with Arsenal quartet Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke being given more time to recuperate after the Champions League final.

Kobbie Mainoo could start in Rice’s absence while Morgan Rogers may operate on the right, allowing him to share the pitch with Jude Bellingham ahead of their battle for the central role.

How can I watch it?

18:12 , Mike Jones

Viewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV1 with coverage starting at 8.15pm. It can also be streamed on ITVX.

When is England vs New Zealand?

18:06 , Mike Jones

England’s clash with New Zealand kicks off at 9pm BST on Saturday 6 June and the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

England vs New Zealand

18:00 , Mike Jones

England ramp up their World Cup preparations with their first warm-up outing as they face the competition’s lowest ranked nation New Zealand.

Thomas Tuchel’s side landed in Miami earlier this week, gearing up for their bid to end 60 years without a major international trophy.

They will now go through their first of two tune-ups before the tournament gets underway, something fans may see as much-needed after England emerged on the losing side in their previous outing against Japan back in March.

England’s World Cup campaign begins in 11 days when they take on Croatia in their Group L opener in Dallas.

Good evening!

15:23 , Mike Jones

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup!

Here we are at last. The domestic season is over and the build-up to this summer’s prime event has begun.

England have landed in the United States and will play two warm up matches from their pre-tournament camp in Miami before heading over to their Kansas base for the start of the World Cup campaign.

The first warm up match is this evening when the Three Lions take on New Zealand.

How many of Thomas Tuchel’s plans will be revealed and will the squad be fresh enough to hit their peaks after such a lengthy season?

We’ll find that out and more as the countdown to the World Cup continues. Stick with us for all the line-ups and build up from tonight’s contest as well as the latest news from the England camp.

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