Coach Gareth Southgate believes England are facing one of the World Cup’s toughest groups as they begin their campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday.
Southgate’s side were regarded as having a potentially easy route to the last 16 when they were placed in Group G with Tunisia, Panama and Belgium.
England have not won an opening group game at a major tournament since beating Paraguay at the 2006 World Cup in Germany – and Southgate believes they have not been given a comfortable ride in Russia.