Gareth Southgate says he was proud of England's performance against Tunisia even at 1-1 before Harry Kane scored a last-gasp winner.
Kane headed home in the 91st-minute, his second of the game, to give England a vital victory in their opening Group G clash at the World Cup in Volgograd.
Southgate says his side's performance was impressive, having created a flurry of chances in the first half and remaining patient throughout the second as Tunisia sat in and frustrated.
Southgate said: "Even at 1-1 I was really proud of the performance."
"I've talked a lot leading up to this game that the performance is key, because that's what you can control."
"There were things in the game that we couldn't control tonight that we reacted really well to."
"If we'd have finished 1-1 there would have been a level of disappointment, but I think the performance was very good."
"We created a lot of clear-cut chances in the first half, as many as I can remember us having."
Southgate even revealed that he had discussed the possibility of being level with the clock ticking just hours before the game.
"We had leaders on the field that kept delivering the right messages.
"We talked this morning in fact about the fact we have covered being behind in games and being behind in games."
"One of the things I wanted to emphasise this morning was 1-1, 15 minutes to go, we keep probing, looking for the win, but not exposing ourselves to counter-attack in transition.
"We kept that control well, we didn't flap or look aimlessly."
"In the end, the pressure built and built."
"Maybe in the end you run out of time, but I think we kept doing the right things and making the right decisions, and I think we were good value for the win in 90 minutes."
VAR was used once again to check on referee Wilmar Roldan's decision to allow Tunisia a first-half penalty for Kyle Walker's arm to the face of Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, a decision Southgate felt was harsh.
Kane was then wrestled to the floor moments later in the other box, and though VAR was used, no penalty was given, which Southgate saw as an incorrect decision.
"We recovered from a really harsh decision, and kept our composure which pleased me."
"In the second half we dominated the game, and looked for good opportunities rather than throwing the ball into the box and hoping."
"I think if it's a penalty at one end, it has to be a penalty at the other."
"Once he's given the first one is given, it's not going to be overturned because it wasn't a clear and obvious error."
"But if it's going to be given for that, it's going to be an interesting tournament, and I think there were similar offences at the other end of the pitch."
Despite the victory, the England manager says he will not allow his players to be comfortable, and the focus will now turn to their second group game with Panama on Sunday.
"We are a team that are improving, developing, so there are always things we can get better at."
"We are a long way from perfection."
"We must enjoy tonight, but not have comfort for the next four or five days."
"We must prepare as perfectly as we can for Panama to get the result we need."
Source: Skysports