Harry Kane marked his 100th appearance for England by scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Finland in the Nations League on Tuesday.
The England captain scored both goals in the second half at Wembley, helping secure the win and reaching a personal milestone in his international career. The 31-year-old became the 10th player to reach 100 caps for England, joining a group that includes David Beckham and Bobby Moore.
Peter Shilton holds the record for the most England caps with 125, while Wayne Rooney is the most capped outfield player with 120 appearances. Kane’s current trajectory suggests he may surpass both players.
Kane is the third player to score on their 100th appearance for England, following Rooney’s goal against Slovenia in 2014 and Bobby Charlton’s against Northern Ireland in 1970. In March 2023, Kane became England’s all-time leading scorer, and his tally now stands at 68 international goals.
Kane has drawn inspiration from long-serving athletes such as Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and NFL legend Tom Brady. Despite the milestones, Kane shows no sign of slowing down in his career.
Before the match, Kane was honored on the field with a gold commemorative cap, presented by fellow England centurions Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole. He was accompanied by his two children as he led the team out at the start of the match.
This was also the second consecutive win for England under interim manager Lee Carsley, who took over after Gareth Southgate’s resignation following the Euro 2024 final. Carsley’s first match saw England defeat Ireland 2-0 on Saturday.
While Tuesday’s match was not as dynamic as the previous game, England displayed creativity and control throughout. Carsley, previously the Under-21 coach, has adopted a more attacking strategy compared to Southgate’s defensive approach.
Carsley became the first England manager since Fabio Capello in 2008 to win his first two competitive games in charge. Whether he will be given the role on a permanent basis remains unclear, but he has left a strong impression ahead of England’s next fixture against Greece in October.
Carsley handed Lille midfielder Angel Gomes his first start for England, while Chelsea’s Noni Madueke made his debut, setting up Kane’s second goal.
The match saw Kane attempt multiple efforts on goal before finally breaking the deadlock in the 58th minute. Receiving a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kane fired a shot from 20 yards out, which ricocheted off the crossbar and into the net.
Kane’s second goal came in the 76th minute after a pass from Alexander-Arnold found Madueke, who crossed low for Kane to finish from 12 yards out. Kane was substituted shortly after, leaving the field to a standing ovation.
England’s win places them in a strong position in Nations League Group B2 as they continue their campaign.
