Sports
ENGLAND captain Harry Kane celebrated his 100th cap in style with two spectacular goals as Finland were beaten in the Uefa Nations League at Wembley.
Kane received a golden cap before kick-off to mark the occasion and wore golden boots – which he used in style to break down a stubborn Finland side.
England had struggled to turn possession into goals, Kane twice being denied by Finland keeper Lukas Hradecky and having a goal ruled out for offside before breaking the deadlock with his 67th international goal.
It was goal befitting the occasion, Kane taking a clever pass in the 57th minute from Trent Alexander-Arnold in his stride before escaping the attentions of the Finnish defence to flash a stunning shot high past Hradecky.
And Kane’s landmark night got even better 14 minutes from time when England debutant Noni Madueke set him up for another clinical finish which gave the defiant Hradecky no chance.
It was England’s reward for a much-improved second-half display that ensured interim manager Lee Carsley has started his reign with two wins after the beating the Republic Of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Kane deserves Wembley plaudits
Kane used the night of 100th cap to deliver a powerful reminder of his quality after a summer of struggle at Euro 2024 in Germany.
The 31-year-old looked a shadow of the striker who is England’s all-time record goalscorer with a series of laboured and lack-lustre displays at Euro 2024 in which he looked short of fitness and way off the pace.
Here at Wembley, against moderate but well-organised opposition, the Bayern Munich forward was a threat throughout with only Hradecky standing between England’s leader and the goal he so desperately wanted.
In the end, Kane was the winner of what was becoming a personal battle, triumphing in emphatic fashion two comprehensive goals.
It was a poignant night as well as one of celebration at Wembley, with tributes paid to former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who died recently, before Kane received his golden cap from Frank Lampard as well as a bouquet of flowers from Finland’s captain Hradecky.
Kane has been well aware of the justified scrutiny he came under after such a poor Euros but the two goals here took him to an outstanding tally of 68 goals in his 100 England appearances as he demonstrated he can still be a formidable player in the post-Gareth Southgate era.
Carsley’s ideal start
Carsley has emerged from his opening two games as England’s interim manager with an unblemished record – although this must be placed in the context of wins against opposition that ranged from desperately poor in the Republic Of Ireland to moderate in the shape of Finland.
Questions would have been asked had England not won these two games but six points from six is exactly what Carsley wanted and potential banana skins have been neatly avoided.
It will strengthen his case to become Southgate’s permanent successor but full judgement must be reserved until Carsley’s England are tested against tougher opponents than they have faced so far.
Carsley has shown he is determined to do things his way, clearly wanting to impose a more dynamic approach and a willingness to give youth its fling, as Lille’s Angel Gomes got his first start and Chelsea forward Madueke made his debut as a substitute.
England struggled to create in the first half but took stronger control as Finland tired, leaving captain Kane to steal the show on a special night for one of the country’s greatest strikers. –BBCSport
A.I
Sept. 11, 2024
Tags: Harry Kane
