Kane is more than able and notches a brace on his 100th outing for England to finish off the Finns 2-0 at Wembley
By Paul Lagan at Wembley Stadium
England 2 v Finland 0
Nations League 2025 – League B Group 2 - Phase
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It was all about Harry Kane before the game – what with it being his 100th cap and all that, but it was Kane during the game that really counted, and he hit a brace to sink dour, defensive Finland 2-0 at Wembley Stadium tonight.
He was handed a golden cap by Frank Lampard just before kick off and for a time it looked like those events would be a distraction, as the plucky underdogs in this league phase encounter of the Nations League kept the Three Lions at bay for the first 45 minutes.
But Kane eventually broke the deadlock – breaking the resistance of the Finnish defence who had goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky to thank for a fistful of saves to deny the home side.
He could do nothing to halt the goal-bound strikes of Kane on the 56 and 76th minutes.
England are joint top of League B Group 2 with six points from two matches, the same as Greece who have a better goal-difference.
The two meet at Wembley on October 10.
As expected all the possession and pressing came from the home side.
Finland, certainly in the opening exchanges, showed resilience and disciple with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky marshalling his defence well.
With no goals to show for it, the inevitable attack by the visitors saw a combination of a byline goal kick for England and a fortunate corner.
Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane had the first shot on target for England on 21 minutes, but his right-footed half-volley from just inside the Finland penalty area was swotted out expertly by Hradecky, who, three minutes later, made an unbelievable tip-away after Bukayo Saka's defected cross seemed to be arrowing goalwards. Hradecky, already on the ground somehow got his fingers to the ball.
Kane thought he had scored on 23 minutes, but he was rightly called offside. VAR got involved and needlessly held up play with its eventual confirmation.
Topi Keskinen will be kicking himself for making a hash of his shot on 27 minutes after England lost possession of the in their own third, The Finn skied a 25 yarder well wide of Jordan Pickford's goal.
There were no changes by Carsley's side at half-time.
Just like the first half, England dominated the ball, without creating too many chances.
A Kane free-kick on 54 minutes was parried away by Hradecky as England ramped up the pressure.
Hradecky was at it again thwarting Gordon and Kane in quick succession, but he was fin ally beaten and it was a power blaster by Kane that finally saw the ball zip past the previously imperious Hradecky to give the Three Lions the lead.
Rico Lewis curled the ball wide as England went for the jugular.
Ezri Konsa left the field on n60 minutes having failed to recover from an earlier knock and Levi Colwill took his place.
Off then went Saka to be replaced by Noni, and Eberechi Eze took Gordon's place – both on 67 minutes.
One of Noni's first actions was to slot the ball to Kane who hit bis brace on 77 minutes with a well timed right-footer.
With the game won, Carsley opted for a couple more substitutions, on came Marc Guehi and Jarrod Bowen, off went John Stone and Kane.
Teams: Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Lewis, Rice, Stones, Saka, Kane, Grealish, Gordon, Konsa, Gomes
Subs: Henderson, Pope, Maguire, Gallagher, Livramento, Colwill, Guehi, Gibbs-White, Mainoo, Bowen, Eze, Noni,
Finland: Hradecky, Peltola, Ivano, Hoskonen, Kamara, Jenson, Pukki, Schuller, Stahl, Keskinen, Uronen
Subs: Joronen, Sinisalo, Vaisanen, Antman, Lod, Tenho, Nissila, Galvez, Kallman, Pohjanpalo, Walta, Niskanen
Referee: Morten Krogh (Denmark)
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