LONDON (Reuters) -England captain Harry Kane marked his 100th senior international appearance in trademark fashion with both goals in his team’s 2-0 victory over a feeble Finland side in Nations League Group B2 at Wembley on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Bayern Munich striker, who received a golden cap before kickoff and sported a pair of dazzling golden boots, broke Finland’s gritty resistance with a dipping right-footed strike in the 57th minute.
At times it appeared to be a battle between Kane and Finland’s impressive keeper Lukas Hradecky on a wet London night with the stopper making several fine saves to deny the striker.
But a razor-sharp Kane beat Hradecky again in the 76th minute, sweeping in another right-footed effort to take his England tally to a record-extending 68.
Kane, who also had a first-half header ruled out for offside, was given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 80th minute.
England’s win was their second under interim manager Lee Carsley after the away victory over Ireland on Saturday and puts them joint top of their Nations League group with Greece.
While the debate about whether Carsley can become the full-time manager in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s resignation following Euro 2024, the statistics make a compelling argument that Kane is his country’s greatest striker.
He became only the third player to score on his 100th England appearance, although Wayne Rooney and Bobby Charlton only managed to hit the net once.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker was rightly criticised during England’s run to the Euro 2024 final, looking heavy-legged and struggling to make much of an impact.
But he was back to his best against an admittedly limited Finland side.
“It was a big night for me, really proud. I want to score goals and help the team. Whenever you are doubted, it makes you more hungry to prove people wrong,” Kane, the first England men’s team player to reach 100 caps since Rooney in 2014.
“I always back myself to score goals and I am excited for the future.”
Carsley handed a first senior England start to midfielder Angel Gomes and also brought in Manchester City full-back Rico Lewis for only his second England start.
England dominated the first period but were frustrated by the Finns with Kane denied the opening goal when he dived to head in Bukayo Saka’s cross but was just offside.
The hosts suffered a scare moments later when Finnish forward Topi Keskinen latched on to some poor England defending but elected to shoot rather than play in former Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki and blazed a shot over the bar.
Finland rarely got out of their own half though and were indebted to Hradecky who made a series of superb saves before he was eventually beaten by Kane.
The forward stepped inside a challenge and smashed a sweetly-struck drive that gave Hradecky no chance.
His second arrived after good work by the impressive Trent Alexander-Arnold who picked out substitute Noni Madueke and the debutant played the ball to Kane who finished in a flash.
“What I have noticed this week is he is highly motivated to play for England and score goals,” Carsley said.
“Hopefully it continues.”
(Reporting by Martyn HermanEditing by Toby Davis)
