Harry Kane at the double as England make winning start

Pockets of seats were left empty in the stadium where England got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start against Tunisia.

The 45,000-seater Volgograd Arena was not completely full as the game kicked off, although the English fans were in full voice to make up for it.

The Football Association did not sell out its allocation for the match, with only 1,510 fans buying through the official England Supporters Travel Club.

More would have purchased their tickets through world football's governing body Fifa but earlier in the day, fans told how they had felt outnumbered by the noisier Tunisian contingent in central Volgograd, 600 miles south of Moscow.

Some supporters had expressed disappointment that many decided not to make the journey to Russia or felt unable to, amid fears of fan violence.

But England's 12th man went away delighted as the national team emerged 2-1 winners.

Viewers shared wrestling memes on social media as they decried the way England captain Harry Kane, who scored both goals for his side, was marked at corners.

Those inside the stadium sang the national anthem several times and bellowed out "football's coming home" as The Lightning Seeds and Baddiel and Skinner's Three Lions played over the PA system during the warm up.

Flags from supporters all over the country hung along one end of the Volgograd Arena, including those representing Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Southend United, Bury and Coventry, which is twinned with the city formerly known as Stalingrad.

Large number of flies were seen swarming the pitch before and during the match.

Three Lions' supporters did not have to wait long to celebrate as Kane fired in a rebound from close range after John Stones' header was saved.

Joy then turned to disbelief a short time later when Kyle Walker collided with Tunisia's Fakhreddine Ben Youssef, leading to a converted penalty.

However, Kane struck again with a late header to secure all three points.