Golden cap, boots and goal: Harry Kane steals show on 100th cap in England win

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Golden cap. Golden boots. And a golden goal. Or two. Harry Kane marked his 100th appearance for England with a strike that ranks up there among the, now, 68 goals he has scored for his country.
Did anyone really doubt he would score on such an occasion? Just to make sure Kane added a second, almost as accomplished, to confirm the result.
On the eve of this Nations League tie against Finland, Kane had boldly agreed that such was his appetite to score he saw no reason why he could not achieve 100 goals as well as that century of caps. “Who knows what I can reach,” Kane later said and only the foolish would rule him out from going on and on and gobble up another 32 goals.
On this evidence the 31-year-old is not just hungry but ravenous for more and there was an inevitability that he would score and, in doing so, become the third Englishman to achieve that on his 100th cap. England’s record goalscorer is in good company, following on from Sir Bobby Charlton and Wayne Rooney. Meanwhile only seven others, of course, have reached a century of appearances.
Churlishly it might be argued that Kane, really, could have saved such an arresting shot to break the deadlock — and it had to be brilliant to beat Finland’s goalkeeper — for the summer’s European Championship, but this evening was not one to dwell on previous frustrations.
Instead it was one to enjoy Kane, whose record is phenomenal, with a rate of just over two goals in every three games in international football. To put that in a little context Cristiano Ronaldo has 133 goals in 214 games for Portugal, at a rate of 0.62, and Lionel Messi has 109 in 187 for Argentina, a rate of 0.58. Kane’s rate is 0.68 goals per game. Just think about that.
It is not to say he ranks alongside those greats and, yes, critics will also point to the lack of silverware. But reports of Kane’s demise, arguments that England should move on from their captain, were and are frankly ludicrous. Whenever he retires, and he has talked about playing for as long as Ronaldo, who is 39, he will be an England legend.
Prior to kick-off Kane was presented with the golden cap, to mark 100 games, by two former players who have achieved it: Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, who is assistant to England’s interim manager Lee Carsley.
Once the match began Kane was a man on a mission. He had the ball in the net in the first-half, but his header was rightly ruled out for offside and he was denied by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky while it took two fine last-ditch interventions to prevent him from securing a tap-in.
In the second-half Kane went close again, with the formidable Hradecky, the captain of his country and the German champions Bayer Leverkusen, pushing away his free-kick. So, it felt like it would take an unstoppable, venomous strike to beat him. And that is what Kane brutally executed.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, easily England’s most incisive player, smartly picked Kane out and the forward only had one thought in his head. He nutmegged Robert Ivanov to create space and hammered a rising shot that caught Hradecky out with its power, kissing the crossbar on its way in.
“That’s right up there, to be honest,” Kane said afterwards when asked how it compared to his previous 99 goals. “Ball from Trent between the lines, little nutmeg and to strike it the way I did, off the bar.”
His second was almost as good and, as a goal, technically even better for England as Alexander-Arnold released substitute Noni Madueke who squared for Kane. In an instant he swept his shot across Hradecky and into the far corner of the net. He made a tricky execution look easy, as he so often does, and it was a reminder of the hour after hour Kane spends on the training ground perfecting such finishes.
And so the Carsley era, if it is to be an era — and increasingly it already looks like he will get the England job on a permanent basis — has got off to the solid start of two comfortable 2-0 wins, following the weekend victory over the Republic of Ireland.
Nothing short of that would have been acceptable and with Greece also in the group, and despite them winning both of their games so far, it should be expected that England finish in first place.
What matters, therefore, is the manner in which they achieve it and despite the weakness of the opposition — Finland were organised and defended well until they were run ragged in the second-half — Carsley has made it clear he wants to impose a more attacking style of play and exert greater control.
Did he achieve that? The signs continue to be highly promising. “We are moving in the right direction,” Carsley said and that was a fair assessment. Alexander-Arnold, again playing as an inverted full-back on the right, once more stood out while Rico Lewis was intelligently progressive on the left.
Anthony Gordon injected directness to the wing and there was the use, from the start, of Angel Gomes who sat in front of the defence and circulated the ball. The 24-year-old is not necessarily going to play a killer pass but he will, crucially, retain possession and needs to be given the chance to stake a claim, especially against stronger opponents when keeping the ball is more difficult but really matters.
Above all, what was pleasing was how England tried to “break the lines” and look for incisive passes. In the end, Kane benefitted from them and, rightly, it was his night. But knowing Kane, it was always going to be.
5 – Trent Alexander-Arnold created the most chances for England versus Finland (5). Since the start of 2019, it’s the third time he’s created 5+ chances in a game for the Three Lions, with no other player doing so on more than one occasion in that time. Unique. pic.twitter.com/Orr7BOdLoG
It was great to make my first appearance for the national team and I am really proud of myself. It has been a great week, the boys are great and the staff and players have made me feel welcome.
It tried to go out there and be direct and cause problems. I got an assist for Harry on his 100th appearance – it can’t get much better than that. It is fitting that Harry got both goals – it is his night.
Harry took his goals really well, a big occasion for him. Kids being here, an emotional night, but really happy for Harry. He fully deserves all the plaudits.
What I have noticed this week is he is highly motivated to play for England and score goals and to have a centre forward like that, hopefully it continues.
We played Trent in a different position, along with Rico, you have seen with Trent an array of passing, an ability to control the game. Not a surprise as we have seen him do it for Liverpool.
I definitely don’t feel comfortable still, I have been out of my comfort zone. Enjoyable but we have to had make sure every single day we are producing high standards. Fortunate to get two good results and about building on that.
It was a good night for Angel Gomes, Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold but who scores highly in Matt Law’s player ratings? Find out here.
It was a big night for me, and really proud to reach the hundred caps. You know what I’m like, I want to score goals and help the team.
Whenever you’re doubted throughout your career it makes you determined to prove people wrong and prove to yourself that you can still play at a high level.
We know how good Trent is when he gets turned in the pockets and has runners in behind.
Consecutive wins in the Nations League for England and their interim manager Lee Carsley. Harry Kane with two sweet finishes in the second half, and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creative game caught the eye. Not an exhilarating performance, but across the two games Carsley’s selections and set-up have been interesting. England have looked well-balanced.
There will be five minutes of added tome to play. Still time for England to add a third.
70,221 is the official attendance tonight. That is down on capacity but an excellent crowd for a midweek international. 
Angel Gomes can feel pleased with his England debut, he has racked up completed passes in this second half, albeit under little resistance from Finland. Lewis’ backheel in the penalty area does not quite come off.
Eze gets beyond the Finland defence but fails to pick out an England shirt with the pull back. This game is done and dusted now, England’s players are relaxed and switching the ball with ease.
Kane’s work is done: he is replaced by Bowen, and gets a standing ovation from the Wembley crowd. Marc Guehi has also replaced John Stones.
Madueke gets the assist for his ball across the box, but it was Alexander-Arnold’s pass to the winger which broke the game open. The perfect weight on it, Madueke did not have to break stride, and his outside of the foot pass was whipped into the far corner by Kane. England goal No 68.
The Grealish switch. The through ball from Trent. The assist from Madueke 😍And of course, the finish from Harry Kane 👏It’s beautiful from @England #ITVFootball | #ENGFIN pic.twitter.com/x2hE0ZqxQ6
This must be the end of the Trent Alexander-Arnold “experiment” in midfield. England’s No8 at the Euros has looked at home at right-back, where he can still move inside and have an influence on the game in the centre of the pitch. His passing range is ridiculous. He just sent the ball across the pitch using his left foot, his so-called weaker boot. It was his pass that set up Harry Kane’s goal and he has had a big impact tonight.
Eze goes for an ambitious volley from Alexander-Arnold’s cross but he could not keep the effort down. Finland have not had a dangerous attack in this half. England should be putting this game to bed.
Eze drives inside from the right, and looks for Madueke at the back post but the Chelsea winger is penalised for a push. England are keeping the ball with ease now, and there have been some quick rotations of position. Maybe not enough punch at the end of moves.
Finland’s Schuller has been booked for dragging down Gordon to stop an England counter-attack.
Here come the England changes: Saka and Gordon off, Madueke and Eze on. Madueke has been in splendid form for Chelsea.
England have made a change, although it may well have been enforced: Colwill on for Konsa.
In the build-up to Kane’s goal, it was an incisive first-time pass from Alexander-Arnold.
Finland were starting to tire before Kane struck – the goal was coming. Lukas Hrádecký, Bayer Leverkusen’s No1 in their Invincibles season, denied Kane the Bundesliga last season and was kept busy before he was beaten with a shot off the bar. 
100 games. 67 goals for the England skipper. 
Gordon combines with Lewis down the left, but the City man glances a shot wide of the far post. England have a chance to add some gloss to the scoreline in this last half hour.
It was going to take a cracking strike to get the better of Hradecky, and that was a viscous hit from Kane. A powerful, swerving right-foot shot that beat the goalkeeper for pace and cracked in off the underside of the bar. England lead, Kane has 67 international goals.
He’s done it! 🙌 Harry Kane has a goal on his 100th cap and @England have the breakthrough! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#ITVFootball | #ENGFIN pic.twitter.com/uM8iywxPgO
It feels as if the England goal is coming, despite the paper planes raining down. 
Hradecky with another pair of saves! The first one denied Anthony Gordon from a tight angle after a slick England move, the second from Kane after Finland failed to clear.
Saka seeing plenty of the ball in the early minutes of the half. That was much better from England: Lewis punched a pass through to Grealish, and he was caught late at the edge of the box. The ball was worked to Rice who saw a shot saved but the referee brings it back for the foul. Kane is over the free kick, 20 yards out, dead central.
Good save from Hradecky. Well-struck from Kane and taken early.
Gomes penalised for catching Finland midfielder Schuller late. Another sighting of paper planes on the pitch as Saka skips beyond a couple of Finland challenges. A worry for Aston Villa fans here with Ezri Konsa down injured. It looked as if he twisted his ankle. 
England kick-off in the second half.
They are the only team to make changes at half-time. Lee Carsley has sent his starting XI back out there.
Much for Lee Carsley to ponder. England have controlled the game as expected, but there has not been enough progression to go with the possession. Alexander-Arnold and Saka involved in the best moments. Gordon has faded after a bright start, Grealish quiet. Lewis and Gomes have been silky, but England have also looked vulnerable against the counter-attack.
England have the chance to find the breakthrough just before half-time. Gomes pounced on a loose ball around 22 yards out and was caught late. Shooting position for Alexander-Arnold, but he whips the ball wide of the post. Tried to go goalkeeper’s side.
Gomes and then Grealish show their ability to keep the ball under pressure in tight spaces, but England are not exactly flying through the thirds.
Alexander-Arnold threatens again. First he scooped a pass over the top for Saka, before the full-back sent a shot whistling beyond the far post. Alexander-Arnold has been involved in most of England’s dangerous moments.
Alexander-Arnold with another through ball that appears to be guided by radar, at Finland hook the ball away from Kane at full-stretch. Alexander-Arnold looks essential for these games in which England need to break down a deep defence.
Couple of paper aeroplanes thrown from the top tier. One reached the penalty area…..it is a sign that the game needs a goal. 
Saka keeps on trying to work a yard for a shot, another is blocked. Then Grealish’s dinked cross is too high for Kane and the England captain concedes a foul.
That was one of England’s better moves. Alexander-Arnold switching the ball to Rice on the left, he passes inside to Grealish who tries a one-two with Lewis. Inches away from being perfect. From the England corner, Kamara does well to partially block Saka’s shot from the edge of the area. From the next corner, Saka’s shot from range flies well over.
This time Angel Gomes swaps with Rice and presses high, and almost catches out the Finland player at the edge of the penalty area. Maybe it is temporary, but Alexander-Arnold and Lewis has swapped flanks at full-back. Both are playing narrow, inside their winger.
Finland with another sight of the England goal after Rice was caught in possession, but Keskinen blazed over the bar from 25 yards when he had a chance to put Pukki through. England have been tidy with the ball, but have looked a little vulnerable at times.
Harry Kane thought he had a goal on his big night, but the flag goes up for offside. The striker had just strayed but was picked out by a lovely clipped cross from Saka. After a considerable VAR check, the decision stands.
This game has sparked into life in the last few minutes. Keskinen led a Finland counter-attack that finished with him curling a shot wide of the far post. England responded, with Alexander-Arnold slipping a pass through for Saka. The Arsenal winger’s shot was not struck cleanly, but still required a smart save after a deflection.
Alexander-Arnold has tried and failed with a couple of high-tariff passes so far, but he very nearly showed the value of a more daring approach there. Would have been a glorious assist for Kane, a disguised diagonal pass into the penalty area, but it would not fall for the striker.
Then Kane stings the palms of Hradecky with a shot from the edge of the box. It was a good height for the goalkeeper. 
Gomes has been clean and sharp in his first 18 minutes as a senior England player. Not afraid to direct traffic and communicate with his team-mates either. 
Gordon then beats Stahl yet again, but his cross his blasted into a Finland defender and behind for the corner. Things have not quite clicked around the box for England so far.
A sedate tempo to the game so far, which you tend to get when one team is focused on nullification. Rice with a dart into the penalty area, picked out by his club team-mate Saka, but his low cross is gathered by the goalkeeper. Rice is certainly playing higher up the pitch under Carsley. 
Excellent cross-field pass from Gomes but Alexander-Arnold’s attempt at a sliced, first-time cross was misguided. 
Pukki then has a chance to punish some slack defending from Konsa, but Rico Lewis did well to cover and deflect the Finland striker’s shot behind for a corner. The delivery was dreadful.
A very small scare for England as Pickford takes a heavy touch when closed down by Pukki. Apart from that, it has been attack against defence inside the Fulham half. Gordon with another cross towards the back post, before Saka picks out Kane with a cross on his own. The England captain’s volley deflects behind for a corner. Alexander-Arnold’s inswinger is punched clear by goalkeeper Hradecky.
There is a bit of debate in the press box whether Angel Gomes is the smallest England international. He is listed as 1.68m which is just a touch taller than Aaron Lennon and the same height as Shaun Wright-Phillips. Who knows under what conditions they were measured. Gomes has been sat in front of the back four in the early stages and has won tackles and been neat on the ball. Carsley believes players like him are needed to win a major tournament. 
England go close to the opening goal. Gordon dribbling down the left and chops back to his right foot, dinking up a cross to the back post which Kane headed back across goal. Saka went close to heading home but Finland scrambled it away. 
Declan Rice kicks fresh air as he tries a shot from distance, and there are even some amused cheers from the England fans which tells you everything about the relaxed atmosphere.
Anthony Gordon seeing a lot of the ball and is trying to make progress into the Finland penalty area. Angel Gomes is the central midfielder dropping deep to receive the ball, with Rice pushed up into an inside-right position. England pushing seven or eight players up to try and break Finland down.
England get the game started and straight away look to monopolise possession.
Wembley stands and applauds in memory of the much-loved former England manager. One of his early games was at home to Finland, with David Beckham scoring in a win at Anfield.
We will never forget you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/64hj7YGAvS
As anticipated, Lee Carsley remains tight-lipped during God Save The King.
Lee Carsley up on the jumbotron at Wembley during the national anthems – and like in Dublin he is not singing the words. 
There are a fair few empty seats in the top tiers. Declan Rice sent out a message that tickets were still available last night. It will still be a healthy crowd here, if not a sell-out 
Harry Kane is accompanied by his two daughters on the night of his 100th cap.
Frank Lampard then presents England’s skipper with a gold cap. From one England centurion to another. 
Nice touch with the flowers. Maybe there’s a box of Milk Tray waiting for him in the dressing room.
2 – Jack Grealish has been named in the starting XI in consecutive England games for the first time since June 2021 (v Austria and Romania). Entrusted. pic.twitter.com/xpwNtl7EJ5
It’s important that we look forward to playing at home. At Wembley, we should expect to put on attacking, high tempo performances and give the fans something good to watch.
[On Angel Gomes starting] Hopefully he will bring control to the game and dictate the game. Find passes in forward areas and link up the play well. It is important not to put too much on his shoulders, he is a young player.
[On Rico Lewis at left-back] We need to be creative with the way that we play and it is a role I have used him in before.
Topi Keskinen is starting for Finland in midfield. The Aberdeen player has a bizarre tattoo on his arm of Wayne Rooney fishing.
As reported by Telegraph Sport, Angel Gomes has been given his first start for England in this match against Finland, with the Lille midfielder replacing Kobbie Mainoo from the team that defeated Republic of Ireland at the weekend. 
Lee Carsley has changed the look of his back four. Full-back problems remain from the Euros – with no orthodox left-back in the squad and Rico Lewis stepping in this time. Ezri Konsa and John Stones are the new centre-back pairing.   
This looks like the forward players that Carsley has faith in, with the same attacking four as Dublin. Of course, Jude Bellingham will be coming back from injury soon.
A tracksuited Lee Carsley takes a break from laying out the balls ahead of England’s warm-up to watch the goals scored against the Republic of Ireland on the big screen here at Wembley. Who can blame him. Both were excellent strikes. The England interim manager was meticulous in lining the balls in three different rows having also set out the cones. After the 2-0 win over Ireland he said one reason for overseeing the warm-up was it gave him one final chance before kick-off to do a bit more coaching and drill a little more of his tactics into his players.
Ready to take on Finland! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/hA4xb0i0N0
“I still want to see us playing with that control,” he said. “I think it’s important that we’re exciting to watch.
“I think when fans come watch England play at home they expect attacking football, they expect chances to be created and to play with a tempo and us to be on the ball.
“I wouldn’t see that being any different.”
“I don’t know if this sounds ridiculous, but we approach every game with a winning mentality because it’s possible in football,” he said yesterday.
“The players have to have that kind of attitude in their minds when they start the game, that there’s a chance to win this game, even against world-class teams like England.
“Hopefully that inspires them also, and requires a lot of hard work on the pitch. That’s for sure.
“Of course we are underdogs. Everyone understands that, but that suits us pretty well in the past as well.”
Speaking in the pre-match press conference yesterday, Harry Kane said: “I think one of our, I’d say, most famous, most popular managers we’ve had as a national team.
“It will be a sad night for a lot of England fans and a lot of England players. There’ll be a good tribute to him that he fully deserves.
“From what I understand, I didn’t get to meet him personally, just a great person, really, really loyal to his players and his job. I think he’ll go down as one of England’s best managers.
“From our point of view, we just wish all his family and friends our condolences, and we hope we can pay a good tribute tomorrow night.”
Finland at Wembley should be less thorny diplomatic terrain for Lee Carsley to navigate in his second match as England interim manager, and it truth it ought to be a comfortable night on the pitch too.
England were impressive for the first 45 minutes against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday, the nation for whom Carsley won 40 senior caps. Carsley wants to be seen as a hands-on coach rather than ambassadorial manager, and there were signs of greater smoothness and fluency to England’s play.
Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier were replaced in the full-back positions by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Levi Colwill, who helped to make England’s build-up play less stodgy. Alexander-Arnold’s quality in possession does not restating, and the selection of Colwill also balanced England nicely. When Alexander-Arnold strayed into more central positions, Colwill tucked around as a left centre-back with England flipping to a back three. 
Another change from the summer was the presence of Anthony Gordon on the left, offering natural width on a flank that was left unoccupied at the Euros. Gordon also provided another speedy runner to move beyond Harry Kane. Jack Grealish operated inside in a No 10 position.
What will be interesting is whether Carsley sticks with this dynamic once Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham are available again, which could mean one of England’s outstanding individual talents starting on the bench. That could well prove his first contentious selection call. 
However, with Foden and Bellingham absent, Carsley has more scope to freshen things up. According to Matt Law and Mike McGrath, Carsley is set to give Angel Gomes his first England start tonight with Ezri Konsa and Rico Lewis also pushing for a start in defence.
Finland have won just one of five matches in 2024, including a heavy 4-1 against Wales in Cardiff. Teemu Pukki has long been their main source of goals but is now 34, but former Arsenal and Rangers man Glen Kamara is still going strong in midfield. 
Confirmed starting line-ups on the way shortly.