Paul Parker: England v Tunisia is bigger than Champions League final for players

The first game is the most difficult for any team. Nerves and the ‘fear factor’ play a major role. One early slip-up can leave you thinking ‘oh, we could go out here’.

Normally I would say the most important thing is to avoid defeat. But it’s Tunisia. England have got to go out and win that game – banishing any lingering memories of their loss to Italy in the Brazilian swamplands four years ago. It’s amazing what a difference a victory makes going into the second game. If they beat Tunisia, they will beat Panama without a problem, taking off the pressure ahead of the Belgium clash.

The players are going to be really nervous. After all, it’s the biggest games of their lives. Forget about the Champions League final for the Liverpool contingent... when you represent your country you’re representing over 50 million people. If you can get it right, you feel so good in yourself. Nothing rivals it.

Expectation is the hardest thing and while there is little belief in the team from supporters, people do expect England to win on Monday. But it won’t be easy. Tunisia have some decent individuals and it’s a huge game for them too. They’ll be national heroes if they get something.

You can’t underestimate anyone. In 1990, we overlooked Cameroon in the quarter-finals and nearly got our arses spanked. Fortunately, we drew level late on and pinched it in extra time. It was a reminder that most of the countries in the World Cup have a decent team and can raise their game.

Still, If England can forget the repercussions of defeat – the endless negative press, for one – and be brave, they will win. I’m convinced of it. Three points would be a massive landmark given the previous shambolic campaigns.

As much as England want to play football out from the back, you can’t just go and make it happen. The teams that do well in World Cups don’t concede a lot of goals, so England can’t take too many risks. There are too many clinical finishers at the World Cup.

Jordan Pickford has better feet than Jack Butland, but is he really used to playing out from the back? Not really. Under Sam Allardyce at Everton, he’s mostly familiar with knocking it 60-70 yards. So to suddenly ask him to do it at the World Cup – regardless of how comfortable he is on the ball – is a bit strange. For that reason, I would start Butland, who has a bigger presence.

I would also start Gary Cahill. He brings experience, something England are lacking throughout the squad, and would better complement Kyle Walker and John Stones than the cumbersome Harry Maguire, who I am unsure about.

Anyway, Southgate’s main challenge is to get Raheem Sterling as close to the Manchester City model as possible. Not the pre-Guardiola Sterling – a player who was rash, anxious and didn't deliver – but the Sterling who is a good decision maker, knows when to run, and wins free-kicks and penalties.

England just have to hope that Harry Kane picks up his form, finally gets that tournament goal and becomes a pest around the opposition defence. If he’s on form, England will always have a chance.

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