England ‘swat’ gnats, swamp Tunisia 2-1

England ‘swat’ gnats, swamp Tunisia 2-1
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Highlights

England and Tunisia players swatted away swarms of gnats that flew into their eyes and mouths during their opening World Cup game in this Russian riverside city on Monday.

Volgograd: England and Tunisia players swatted away swarms of gnats that flew into their eyes and mouths during their opening World Cup game in this Russian riverside city on Monday.

The area around Volgograd is known for its swamps and wide rivers, the perfect breeding ground for insects during the hot and dry summer in the Russian south.

Russian media said authorities used planes in the months before the game to spray the area around the stadium, which is next to the massive Volga river, with a special substance designed to kill off the bugs.

Authorities also tried to regulate the flow of water at a nearby hydro-electric dam which locals believe has a direct effect on the number of insects.

Players still had to cover themselves with bug spray before the game and at halftime, but that seemed to have little effect.

"There were a lot more than I first thought... some of them in your eyes, some of them in your mouth," said England captain Harry Kane, who scored twice including a stoppage-time header to lead his side to a 2-1 victory.

His team mate Raheem Sterling looked particularly bothered by the tiny gnats circling his face before the start of the second half.

Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi was also pestered by them before the took a penalty - but he still managed to convert it and equalise for the African side. The coaches were not distracted by the insects.

"I did not feel the midges because I was so focused on the team, on the game," Tunisia's Nabil Maaloul said.

Meanwhile, Captain Harry Kane came to the rescue with two goals, the second a dramatic injury-time winner, as England began their World Cup Group G campaign with a stuttering 2-1 win over Tunisia on Monday.

Gareth Southgate's men almost paid a heavy price for missing a slew of first-half chances when Tunisia's Ferjani Sassi slotted home a softly-awarded penalty 20 minutes before half-time.

Into the second-half, England still enjoyed the lion's share of possession but could not find the same zip and penetration they had enjoyed at the start of the first half.

The ineffective Sterling gave way to Marcus Rashford with just over 20 minutes to go and the Manchester United man almost fashioned a chance straight away with a jinking run into the box.

England coach Gareth Southgate said he was delighted with his team's performance despite having to rely on an injury-time Harry Kane goal to beat Tunisia in their opening World Cup match on Monday.

England lie second in Group G behind Belgium on goal difference and can all but secure qualification for the knockout stages with a win against Panama on Sunday.

"We created a lot of clear-cut chances in the first half, as many as I can remember us having," said Southgate after England had six shots on target, reportedly their most in a half of World Cup football since the 1966 semi-final against Portugal.

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