Late header from Kane gives England 2-1 win over Tunisia

The team has been transformed by Southgate since then. For all the placidness and togetherness within the group, Southgate has added persistence and doggedness.

"It shows the work we have put in these last few weeks," Walker said. "Togetherness and believing in ourselves."At the last World Cup, England couldn't even win a game. Low expectations for this year's overhauled team were dispelled early in Russia when Kane reacted quickly to score after John Stones' header was saved. But England struggled to finish it off.

When Walker's flailing arm caught Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, a penalty was awarded and Sassi slotted it in to equalize.

England's players later thought they deserved the same verdict when Kane was grappled to the ground twice by Tunisians on either side of the halftime break. Both times, the referee decided against punishing the culprits.

Despite it all, Kane remained patient and delivered in the first minute of stoppage time.

"You go until the last second," Kane said, "and I'm absolutely buzzing."

England seemed destined for a familiar hard-luck story — dominance with little to show for it.