Okocha On Tunisia Loss To England : Set-Piece Defending Root Of Their Problem, Kane Top Striker

Published: June 19, 2018

1994,1998 and 2002 World Cup star Austin Okocha has commented on Tunisia's 2-1 loss to England in a Group G fixture at the ongoing World Cup, a game in which Tottenham Hotspur goal machine Harry Kane notched two goals.

In the 11th minute, John Stones's header looked destined for the back of the net but Tunisia goalkeeper Mouez Hassen saved it; Kane was the first player to react on the loose ball and put it away to give the Three Lions the lead.

''No, he did so well even to get a contact, it was almost in and I don't have to blame him for that, '' Okocha said in his post-match analysis on SuperSport.

''I should be blaming the players that didn't recognize the second phase of the play when you don't win the first header, to try and get yourself in a better position to be able to clear the second ball which they didn't do.''

Okocha had nothing but praise for Kane who bagged the winner for England in the first-minute of second-half stoppage time, scoring with a header after Kieran Trippier swung in a corner kick from the right.

''You can see he is a goalscorer, he is a top striker, he anticipated that, he wanted that goal, he took a gamble. When you take a gamble, it might fall for you. Take nothing away from the finish there.

''It was poor decision by the number 14, you have to clear your line before you push up, that's basic, that is what they teach you in the academies and this cost them a vital point.

''They have to watch it and hope that they will correct it in the future. It's not just them, it happened to us, it happened to Morocco as well. Defender not defending his line properly,'' said the former Bolton Wanderers midfielder.

In their next match, Tunisia face Belgium on June 23 in Moscow while Gareth Southgate's side battle Panama the following day in Nizhniy Novgorod.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : thefa.com