As has been the case so many times before, caution pre-empted confidence, which came before mild arrogance, quickly dissipating in favour of paranoia, and, finally, blunt acceptance that things haven't changed at all - until it did.
'Relief' was what Martin Keown felt over on the BBC, and so he should. Although they were good money for their win, the 2-1 scoreline only came into being very, very late on; Harry Kane grabbing his second of the night in the 91st minute.
England kicked off their World Cup campaign against Tunisia this evening - and kicked it off in some style. With a first-half performance that, heaven forbid, began in the kind of fashion that appeared to justify the pre-match reports of a happy camp, a well-deserved 1-0 lead was arguably less than than they deserved.
In the cut and thrust of a game that Gareth Southgate and his players should take a good degree of confidence from, England's fans were a touch more fickle throughout.
Starting off oh so well, viewers could scarcely contain their excitement as England started with great confidence; passing through the Tunisians at will. Although they would have reason to believe more goals should have followed, captain Harry Kane did get them off the mark early on.
This is good. Damn good.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) June 18, 2018
Captain Kane..... GET IN @England #WorldCup
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 18, 2018
What a header…
What a save…
… but no stopping Kane!! 1-0 #England— ℂ𝕦𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕤 𝔻𝕒𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕤 #33 (@TheCurtisDavies) June 18, 2018
England have started excellently.. gift for Kane.. can see this being 3 or 4 !
— John Hartson (@JohnHartson10) June 18, 2018
Great start. Well played #England Early goal makes a HUGE difference #TUNENG#WereGoingToWinTheWorldCup 🏆
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) June 18, 2018
England should be 3 up now.
— Jonathan Davies OBE (@JiffyRugby) June 18, 2018
A stray Kyle Walker elbow allowed Tunisia back into the game. Mixed thoughts whether or not it should have been awarded, there was no shortage of indignant anger - much more interesting that.
Softest penalty ever. Ridiculous.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) June 18, 2018
Never a penalty. #Walker used his arms to stop the forward getting a run on him. That’s the standard of refereeing so far in the #WorldCup
— Stephen Warnock⚽️📺🎙 (@StephenWarnock3) June 18, 2018
So Tunisia get a penalty for their player running into Kyle Walker's arm, but #England get bugger all for Kane being wrestled to the ground off the ball. Yeah that makes sense #SHITREF #ENGTUN
— Jon Morgan (@Jon11473) June 18, 2018
If anyone can tell me how the Walker one is a pen; but the Kane one isn’t, that would be great🤷🏼♂️🤔🤯
— Connal Trueman (@CJTrueman) June 18, 2018
"He's conned the referee!" 😤@chriswaddle93's definitely not happy with that decision to award Tunisia a penalty...#TUN 1-1 #ENG#TUNENG live 📱⚽️ https://t.co/okPpCwiBxb #bbcworldcup #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/o7xWlxxaO5
— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) June 18, 2018
A weird, recurring feature of the night was the apparent inability of the referee - and the much touted VAR - to notice the repeated targeting of Kane in the England box.
Penalties or not, no shortage of irony was on show.
The stuff that's happening to Kane in the Tunisia box is rugby, not football. Absurd that it is not being penalised
— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) June 18, 2018
Sorry referee and your VAR pals put that was a spear tackle on Kane #TUNENG pic.twitter.com/n7r3n1pBJy
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) June 18, 2018
Come on VAR, this is a joke.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) June 18, 2018
If that one isn’t a penalty then I’m Prime Minister #TUNENG
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) June 18, 2018
YOU'RE FUCKING JOKING REF
— Stan Collymore ❤️🖤 (@StanCollymore) June 18, 2018
A question for the VAR buffs - which offence should’ve been penalised, Kane being hauled down or Stones’ blatant shove on his marker? They both happened simultaneously.
— Tony Barrett (@TonyBarrett) June 18, 2018
VAR is temporarily out of use. We apologize for the inconvenience this might cause for you all supporting England
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) June 18, 2018
Are we not using VAR on this @England game 🤔🤔 surely now that’s 2 pens on Harry Kane they’ve missed ?
— Fara Williams MBE (@fara_williams47) June 18, 2018
Why wasn’t Kane given a penalty?
— Alan Hardy (@Bigalanh5) June 18, 2018
What do they have to do to Kane for him to win a penalty?
— 🇺🇦Matthew Lewis🇺🇦 (@Mattdavelewis) June 18, 2018
The officiating in the game has been appalling
Another penalty for England
And Khazri isn’t even close to offside— Andy Castell (@AJ3) June 18, 2018
In the end, England huffed and puffed (and swatted away the admittedly mad number of midges), before finally getting the job done.
After all the pre-match curtailing of hype (whilst secretly lumping on the expectations anyway), England's World Cup campaign almost kicked off in the most typically English fashion.
