The Young Lions beat Tunisia 1-0 in their group-stage opener in Argentina with Harvey Vale playing a big part in the winning goal.

Vale was the captain of the side and operated wide on the left, with Bashir Humphreys, who has been playing on loan at Paderborn in Germany, behind him on the left of the England defence. After a quiet start to the game, it was from that flank that a superb Vale cross was headed in from the edge of the six-yard box by Dane Scarlett, the Spurs centre-forward who has been on loan at Portsmouth.

That was in the 25th minute and a Vale corner then gave Jarell Quansah a heading opportunity at the far post but his ball back was blocked. England did most of the attacking for the rest of the first half but without really looking like adding to their lead.

Humphreys, who defended well when called upon, required some treatment at the start of the second half but he was back on the pitch to sweep up when a mistake from a team-mate allowed Tunisia a rare attack.

England went close to scoring through Alfie Devine before a Tunisia free-kick drew a save from Matthew Cox.

With quarter-of-an-hour remaining, Humphreys’ injury got the better of him and he was replaced. Former Chelsea player Xavier Simons, now of Hull, came on at that stage of the game too.

In the closing moments, England went close to a second goal when another substitute, Daniel Jebbison, firstly had a shot saved following a run after good work from Vale, and then Jebbison hit the post.

Chelsea goalkeeper Ted Sharman-Lowe was an unused England sub.

With many of the Young Lions squad having won the European Under-19 Championship last year, their hopes are high to do well in this tournament. They will next be in action on Thursday when they play Uruguay. Iraq are the other country in the group.