By Harry Kane marked his 100th England cap with a double as the Three Lions secured a 2-0 victory over Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Tuesday night, giving interim manager Lee Carsley his second win in as many matches.
The Bayern Munich striker, who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Kane then sealed the win with a curling shot in the 75th minute, cementing England’s dominance in a match where they held 77% possession.
“It’s a special night, to score twice on my 100th cap is incredible,” Kane said post-match. “The lads played brilliantly, and it’s great to get another win under Lee [Carsley].”
England controlled the game from the outset, with Bukayo Saka creating early chances. However, it wasn’t until the 20th minute that they registered their first shot on target, Kane forcing a save from Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead when Kane headed home, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Finland’s best opportunity came through Topi Keskinen, who opted to shoot rather than pass to an unmarked Teemu Pukki, much to the striker’s visible frustration.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, instrumental throughout, nearly opened the scoring with a low drive that narrowly missed the post. The Liverpool right-back’s performance drew praise from Carsley: “Trent was excellent tonight, his range of passing and vision were crucial to our attacking play.”
The breakthrough came in the second half when Kane unleashed a thunderous shot that clipped the crossbar on its way in. The England captain then added his second, finishing off a move involving substitute Noni Madueke, who was making his senior international debut.
“Harry showed his class tonight,” Carsley said. “To perform like that on such a milestone appearance speaks volumes about his quality and dedication to the national team.”
The victory maintains England’s perfect start in Nations League B, following their 2-0 win against Ireland last week. It also provides a boost for Carsley, who has overseen two clean sheets and four goals in his first two matches as interim manager.
Finland, despite their defensive efforts, struggled to create meaningful chances. Manager Markku Kanerva acknowledged the gulf in class: “England’s quality shone through. We defended well for long periods, but Kane’s individual brilliance made the difference.”
As England look ahead to their next fixtures in October, the Football Association continues its search for a permanent manager. Carsley’s impressive start has inevitably led to speculation about his chances of securing the role full-time.
“I’m just focusing on each game as it comes,” Carsley said when asked about his future. “It’s an honor to lead England, and we’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.”
The match also saw debuts for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke and Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey, highlighting the depth of young talent at England’s disposal as they build towards the 2026 World Cup.
