Hat-trick for Harry Kane as England storm into Euro 2020 finals

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick and England stormed into the finals of Euro 2020 with a 7-0 demolition of Montenegro.

England captain Harry Kane, right, scores his team’s fifth goal against Montenegro at Wembley. Picture: AP

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick and England stormed into the finals of Euro 2020 with a 7-0 demolition of Montenegro at Wembley Stadium.

In what was England’s 1000th international match, the hosts fielded their youngest starting line-up for 60 years and captain Kane struck three times within 18 minutes on Friday morning (AEDT) to put his country out of sight by halftime.

The Spurs striker moved past Alan Shearer to 31 goals and into sixth place in the all-time list of England goalscorers.

“We have had one slip up in the group and responded really well. Got the job done and wanted to put on a show in out 1000th game and with five goals in the first half I think we did that,” Kane said.

Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham were also on target, as was Montenegrin defender Aleksandar Sofranac – but in the wrong net.

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“Super quality passing and crossing and clinical finishing,” England manager Gareth Southgate said.

“In the past we have maybe struggled against lower-ranked teams who defend in numbers but we have players who can open those teams up and a style of play that can do that. We have qualified and done it clinically.”

As expected, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling was left out as punishment for his role in an altercation with Liverpool’s Joe Gomez in training on Monday. Gomez was booed by some fans at Wembley when he came on as a substitute.

With one game left in Group A, England will finish top and ahead of Czech Republic, who booked their place in next year’s tournament with a 2-1 comeback win at home to Kosovo thanks to Alex Kral’s late brace.

Elsewhere, Olivier Giroud scored the winning goal from the penalty spot – his 39th at international level – as France beat Moldova 2-1 to move ahead of Turkey in Group H.

The defending world champions had qualified earlier in the day as Iceland were held to a 0-0 draw in Turkey, guaranteeing both France and Turkey the top two positions.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored another hat-trick, moving him closer to 100 international goals, as he led European champions Portugal to a 6-0 drubbing of Lithuania. It was the Portuguese captain’s 55th treble of his career and ninth for his country, and with 98 goals could become only the second player to score a century for his country after Iran’s Ali Daei.

Portugal are close to advancing from Group B alongside qualified Ukraine, remaining one point ahead of Serbia who were 3-2 winners over Luxembourg.

Belgium, Italy, Russia, Poland and Spain had already qualified for next year’s 24-team tournament to be played across the continent between June 12-July 12.

DPA