This match had many tributes before the game as it was Harry Kane's big night, celebrating his 100th cap and being presented with a Golden Cap to mark the occasion. But England's top goalscorer was not the only tribute to be remembered on this night as the sad passing of four other men were also very much remembered for their contributions to the England football team. The recent losses of Sven Goran Eriksson, Tommy Banks, the former Bolton stalwart, Kevin Campbell and Craig Shakespeare were all given a fitting tribute by the big Wembley crowd.

The game marked the Wembley debut of the interim coach Lee Carsley and everyone anticipated more of the same after the comfortable win in Ireland the previous weekend. They were not to be disappointed, and there was a real bonus regarding Kane too. The manager made several changes to the team, including bringing in Rico Lewis, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, and Angel Gomes for his first start. Possession was the name of the game from the start by England and it was something they continued throughout the match. As early as the fourth minute a fine run and cross by Anthony Gordon was headed back across goal from the far post by Kane but some desperate defending by the Finnish defence cleared the danger.

Two minutes later Jordan Pickford was almost robbed of possession by Teemu Pukki, well known in English football, but the goalkeeper got away with it as the ball went out for a goal-kick. Some fine inter-passing at speed followed from Gordon, Jack Grealish and Gomes, and both Gordon and Bukayo Saka were prominent on the wings for England. One attack saw Kane's volley from a Saka cross deflected for a corner. Finland hardly reached the England half in the first ten minutes but on 12 minutes only good defending by Lewis stopped Pukki in his tracks after one breakaway.

It was noticeable that Declan Rice was not as influential when England attacked as he had been in Ireland, but just as I thought that he was on the end of another pass by Saka and the goalkeeper did well to save. Basically though, it was one-way traffic and it seemed only a matter of time before England would make the breakthrough. Gordon was a real livewire and from another of his crosses England won a corner as the pressure mounted. On 20 minutes Kane was almost in but more resolute defending blocked him. Kane then had a shot well saved before Topi Keskinen made a good break, but a foul ended that rare foray.

Two minutes later, Saka had a try, his shot was deflected by a defender and goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky did well to paw the ball away. On 23 minutes we thought we had a dream breakthrough as another great cross from Saka was headed home emphatically by Kane at the far post. Unfortunately, after a VAR check, the goal was ruled out by a very narrow offside decision.

Gomes was playing really well in the midfield, busy, working hard and linking well with his teammates. On 26 minutes Keskinen had a good chance but probably shot too early, wildly over the bar from 20 yards out. That was probably the best chance of the game for the visitors. Saka's twists and turns then won another corner which Konsa was within a whisker of making contact. England had no problems winning corners but not much was forthcoming from them. Saka was next to try his luck from range, but his shot flew over. It was still all England and Pickford was largely unemployed.

On 38 minutes, Arttu Hoskonen, who was having a good match for Finland, once again did well to intercept a Trent Alexander-Arnold probing pass. The Liverpool man was starting to become a major threat with his clever passing but that final touch at the top end was not quite there. The good thing was that when England lost possession they were quickly back, snapping at heels to regain possession again. On 42 minutes Alexander-Arnold put Saka through with a lovely pass, only for the cross to come back to the Liverpool man, and this time he drilled a shot low and hard, which just scraped the far post. Close! The same player was involved in the last action of the half when England were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. He took the kick but it just cleared the crossbar. A good half for England, but a ruthless streak was needed.

A quiet opening to the second-half ended in the 53rd minute when Rice had a shot saved and then a free-kick was hammered at goal by Kane only for Hradecky to make another excellent save. That livened up the play again and in the next few minutes Rice went close and Alexander-Arnold put in some very dangerous crosses. Four minutes later and the deadlock was finally broken. Good moves by England saw Gordon and Kane go close and in the very next attack a pass from Alexander-Arnold found Kane and he side-stepped the defender, made space for a shot and blasted the ball into the top of the net. What a way to celebrate your 100th cap!

Gordon then set up a chance for Lewis, who looked very impressive, but his shot went just the wrong side of a post. Konsa, who was injured earlier, finally had to go off to be replaced by Levi Colwill, but that made no difference to the play as Gomez snaps into another tackle and Kane has another fierce shot blocked by the goalkeeper. Gordon's last action was to be hauled down by Rasmus Schuller, who received a deserved booking, and England brought on Eberechi Eze and, for a debut, Noni Madueka, replacing Gordon and Saka. Both were quickly in the action. Eze volleyed over a cross from Alexander-Arnold and Madueka made some lively runs on the right. The only disappointment of this England performance came in the fact that despite almost complete possession, they had just the one goal to show for it.

However, that changed in the 76th minute with another fabulous finish from you-know-who! A fine pass from Alexander-Arnold found Madueka and his first-time pass into the middle was swept home by Kane for his second goal of his memorable night. It has to be said that all four goals scored under Carsley's tenure so far have been superb.

For the rest, it was a question of near misses and fine approach play and if England show just a little more ruthlessness in front of goal then someone soon will get a pasting! Obviously I exclude Harry Kane from the criticism because this match belonged to him. The standing ovation he received on being substituted was so well deserved. Impressive performances by Stones, as steady as a rock, Lewis, lively and energetic, Gomez, exciting, and Grealish, Gordon and Alexander-Arnold who showed great skills and it all augers well for the future, especially when you think of our players that didn't play in these two matches. Lee Carsley must be delighted with his start.
      

Source Notes