England 2 Finland 0: Harry Kane back to his best with brilliant double on 100th cap as Lee Carsley wins in Wembley bow

AFTER being cast as a summer scapegoat in Germany, Harry Kane is back to being simply the GOAT.

England’s greatest goalscorer marked his 100th international appearance with an emphatic second-half double – two of the very best strikes he has ever conjured for his country.

GettyHarry Kane did what he does best on his 100th appearance for England[/caption]

PAThe star bagged twice to see England win 2-0[/caption]

GettyIt was a golden night for Kane who made his 100th appearance for the Three Lions[/caption]

He's done it! 🙌

Harry Kane has a goal on his 100th cap and @England have the breakthrough! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#ITVFootball | #ENGFIN pic.twitter.com/uM8iywxPgO

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 10, 2024

As a keen cricket fan, Kane knows the importance of marking a century and at Wembley tonight he raised his bat in style, leaving to a standing ovation from all four corners of Wembley ten minutes from time.

That double took the Bayern Munich striker’s tally to 68. Kane claims he is aiming for three figures and you wouldn’t bet against the 31-year-old on this showing.

Kane has been bristling at taking much of the blame for England’s faltering performances en route to the Euros Final.

But after clearly struggling for full fitness during that campaign this was a welcome return to full sharpness, with two sweet finishes after a much busier all-round display.

It was a second successive impressive performance for England under interim boss Lee Carsley.

They were patient against a stubborn Finnish defence and an excellent keeper – lively, inventive and ultimately clinical.

And while Kane stole the show, Trent Alexander-Arnold was magnificent, playing a major role in both goals.

Carsley’s decision to employ him in his Liverpool role as a right-back/midfield playmaker proving a masterstroke.

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ReutersKane rifled his first goal into the roof of the net[/caption]

GettyHe swept his second past Finland goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky[/caption]

GettyThe star had been searching for a goal to mark the historic occasion[/caption]

APKane helped Lee Carsley keep a perfect record as England boss[/caption]

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

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 10, 2024

The Anfield man looks liberated under Carsley’s interim regime and will surely be an automatic England starter from now on.

Sure, this was still only a home win against a Finnish side ranked 63rd world but England lost to Iceland the last time they played at Wembley so should not be sniffed at.

England ratings vs Finland: Kane bags double on his big day… but he’s not the Three Lions’ star man

TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD showed his brilliance as Harry Kane’s brace saw England beat Finland.

Interim boss Lee Carsley maintained his 100 per cent win record in charge of England.

SunSports Tom Barclay has given their ratings of the England players…

Jordan Pickford – 6

Had nothing to do.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – STAR MAN 9

England’s best player as he supplied some beautiful balls from deep that on another day would have led to a glut of assists.

He did get one in the end, although that was more thanks to Harry Kane’s lethal finishing.

Ezri Konsa – 6

Showed his ability on the ball with a super ball through for Bukayo Saka on the half hour.

Twisted his ankle early in the second half, surprisingly played on before being replaced on the hour.

John Stones – 6

Played at left-sided centre-back before shifting when Levi Colwill came on.

Solid though not much to deal with. Now 19 short of 100 caps.

Rico Lewis – 7

In the right place to snuff out early danger from ex-Norwich man Teemu Pukki.

Came close to a goal on his second England cap when prodding wide after the break.

Declan Rice – 5

Lost possession to give Finland their one and only big chance which Topi Kesinen should have squared to Pukki, but instead fired wildly over.

Angel Gomes – 7

Wanted the ball from the off, just like Lee Carsley thought he would. Deliciously drilled cross-field ball to Alexander-Arnold early doors showed his range.

Bukayo Saka – 7

Almost scored and almost assisted in a lively display.

Unlucky that Kane was millimetres offside after the centurion had headed home the Arsenal man’s wicked delivery.

Jack Grealish – 7

Enjoyed being in the heart of the action at No10 again, as he did on Saturday against the Republic of Ireland.

Carsley clearly likes him – it will be fascinating to see what happens when Mssrs Bellingham, Foden and Palmer all return.

Anthony Gordon – 7

Caused problems down the left with his rapid pace – how we needed some of that in the Euros.

But did not have on his shooting boots as he fluffed a decent chance early in the second half.

Harry Kane – 8

Two blistering finishes took the centurion to an astonishing 69 goals in 100 caps.

Was denied the chance of a hat-trick in front of his family when subbed off to a standing ovation for the final ten.

Kane said he fancies his chances of reaching a ton of international goals – and it does not seem fanciful.

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Levi Colwill (on for Konsa, 61) – 6

Next to no threat from Finland by the time he came on.

Eberechi Eze (on for Gordon, 66) – 6

Raced on to yet another special Trent pass but could not loop it over the keeper.

Noni Madueke (on for Saka, 66) – 7

Looked to make an impact every time he got the ball on debut. Excellent one-two with Trent saw the Chelsea man tee up Kane’s second.

Marc Guehi (on for Stones, 80) – 6

As with Colwill, little to do.

Jarrod Bowen (on for Kane, 81) – 6

Played up top after Kane went off for the final minutes, as he has done for West Ham.

We will be hearing a lot of the expression ‘you can only beat what’s in front of you’ during Carsley’s six-match autumn audition against the Finns, Ireland and Greece – but England have at least done their job with a touch of flourish this week.

And just two games into the campaign we can safely say that top-tier Nations League football is coming home.

Carsley’s maiden outing in charge – especially the first half – had been a triumph in Dublin, with England free-flowing and thrilling in a 2-0 win.

But it initially looked an inauspicious first Wembley date for the interim boss – piddling rain, thousands of empty seats and low-rent opposition which included former Norwich striker Teemu Pukki and a bloke who plays for Aberdeen with a tattoo of Wayne Rooney fishing on his arm.

Kane was handed a golden cap by fellow 100 Club members Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole as well as a bunch of flowers from Finnish keeper Lukas Hradecky.

After a big-screen shot of Carsley not singing God Save The King – and that’s surely enough of that now – and applause for the late Sven Goran Eriksson, we were off.

And it all seemed to be about trying to tee up Kane for a goal on his landmark night.

First, Anthony ‘Flash’ Gordon centred but Kane headed back across goal when he might have scored, then he skied a deflected effort from a Bukayo Saka cross.

As in Dublin, England were zipping it around nicely. Angel Gomes, on his first England start, was neat and tiny, looking even shorter than his 5ft 6in frame in comically big shorts and short socks.

The little Lille midfielder produced a peach of a pass for Kane, who swivelled and had a shot pushed away by his pre-match Interflora man.

Next, Alexander-Arnold played a sweet reverse pass and Saka’s deflected cross-shot forced a decent improv save from Hradecky.

When Kane first found the net, heading home a curling Saka centre midway through the first half, the linesman correctly spotted a toenail offside.

England hogged the ball, possessive as jealous lovers and forced a succession of corners.

But the Finns, preparing for months without sunlight, were pulling down the blackout blinds, defending in a low block which resembled a sandbagged roadblock.

Alexander-Arnold, England’s most creative player, fizzed one just wide and it felt a little churlish that paper planes were already descending onto the turf when Carsley’s men were playing pretty damned well.

RexTrent Alexander-Arnold looks a man rejuvenated under Lee Carsley[/caption]

GettyAngel Gomes looked comfortable in the middle of the park[/caption]

Gomes was chopped down by Glen Kamara on the edge of the box but Alexander-Arnold thudded his free-kick wide.

The second half began with Ezri Konsa surviving an injury scare when he went over on his ankle.

Then we were back to Hradecky versus England.

In the space of five minutes, the Finnish keeper saved from an angled Rice shot, a Kane free-kick, a Gordon effort and a Kane overhead kick.

Then finally the resistance was broken thanks to that piece of world-class quality from Kane.

Alexander-Arnold made the pass, Kane slipped inside Robert Ivanov and thumped his shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

He raced towards the corner flag, leapt in joy and was mobbed by his team-mates.

Soon, left-back Rico Lewis dragged one wide when he ought to have doubled England’s lead and Konsa was replaced by Levi Colwill.

Carsley soon sent on Ebere Eze and handed a debut to Chelsea’s Noni Madueke.

Eze should have scored from one of those first-time laser passes from Alexander-Arnold.

The second arrived 15 minutes from time, another gorgeous first-time pass from Alexander-Arnold locating Madueke, who squared with the outside of his boot for Kane to rifle into the far corner.

"I definitely don't feel comfortable, no"

Lee Carsley reacts to his first international break with England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#ITVFootball | @GabrielClarke05 pic.twitter.com/w221IQV1lT

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) September 10, 2024