Harry Kane’s late first-half goal was enough to beat the All Whites in their last World Cup warm-up match before the tournament starts next week.
The England captain’s clever flick header late in the first half injury-time was the decisive moment of the match in hot conditions in Tampa, Florida.
The All Whites still couldn’t produce a goal in their final match before the World Cup, but their defensive resilience and effort can be something to take into their first match against Iran on June 16.
The All Whites predictably had a lot of defending to do early on, but defenders Finn Surman and Michael Boxall were able to deal with numerous crosses and shots from range.
Max Crocombe did well between the sticks in his bid to start at the World Cup, having to deny Kane on a couple of occasions, managing to tip a close-range header over the bar.
The All Whites worked a couple of half-chances of their own, with Eli Just not able to find anyone in the box from his cross, and Matt Garbett forced a good save from Jordan Pickford down to his left.
The first and only goal of the game came in injury time late in the first half, as Bayern Munich striker Kane got on the end of a cross from Djed Spence and delicately flicked it off his head into the far corner of the goal to put the Three Lions up at the break.
England manager Thomas Tuchel made 11 changes at the break with a fresh team coming on for the second half.
They posed a lot of attacking threats on the wings with new Barcelona signing Anthony Gordon and Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha causing a lot of trouble for the All Whites’ defence.
England will be disappointed they couldn’t manage to find a second goal, with Dan Burn hitting the post following a corner.
England thought they had been awarded a penalty when Matt Garbett took down Ivan Toney in the box, but it was checked by VAR, who found the English striker to be just offside, which let the All Whites off.
All Whites 0 England 1 (Kane 45+3’) HT 0-1
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