England 3-0 Czechia: Kane marks record-tying cap with brace in routine win

Harry Kane marked his record-tying 125th England cap with a brace as England cruised to a 3-0 UEFA Nations League win over Czechia.

Kane’s selection for Tuesday’s clash at Wembley moved him level with Peter Shilton for caps, and he was instrumental as England rounded off the international break by making it three wins from four.

He provided the assist for the opening goal as Vladimir Coufal turned into his own net midway through the first half, with Kane then capping an excellent England move to double the lead from close range in the 40th minute.

England’s record goalscorer headed home a second 12 minutes into the second half as the Three Lions all but secured their place in the Nations League quarter-finals.

Thomas Tuchel’s men are three points behind Group 3 leaders Spain, but hold a six-point advantage over third-placed Croatia with two games to play. With head-to-head record the tie-breaker and England having beaten Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday, it would take a remarkable turn of events for them to miss out on the last eight.

Czechia goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek was forced into action early as he dived to his right to repel a curling free-kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But that was as close as England came to making their pressure tell until Coufal misjudged a low right-wing cross from Kane, turning it past the helpless Hornicek while under no pressure from an attacking player.

And there was nothing Hornicek could do as Kane doubled the lead, turning home with a simple finish after Morgan Rogers met Elliot Anderson’s superb lofted pass with a first-time cross that put the ball on a plate for the Bayern Munich talisman.

That marked Kane’s 90th goal for England and, after he rattled the crossbar from the edge of the area, number 91 arrived in short order.

Hornicek denied Jude Bellingham after more fine build-up play from Rogers, but Newcastle United full-back Lewis Hall produced an excellent deep delivery from the resulting corner, Kane meeting it with a far-post header that proved too strong for Hall’s Magpies team-mate in the Czech goal.

England took their foot off the gas somewhat thereafter, with Kane eventually withdrawn to a fine ovation after a history-making night. Another will almost certainly follow next month when England host Croatia with Kane in line to earn a record-breaking 126th cap.

The UEFA Nations League Table

Upcoming fixtures for England and Czechia

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