FOOTBALL – ENGLAND captain Harry Kane poached a late double as his side completed a record-setting World Cup qualification campaign with a hard-earned 2-0 victory away to Albania in Group K yesterday.
It looked like England were set to drop their first points but Kane tapped home from close range in the 74th minute when Albania failed to deal with a corner.
He then made it 2-0 eight minutes later with a clinical header from substitute Marcus Rashford’s deep cross.
In keeping a clean sheet Thomas Tuchel’s side became the first European nation to qualify for a World Cup by winning all their games without conceding a goal in a group featuring at least six games.
England also became just the fifth European team to qualify for a World Cup with a 100 per cent record after finishing Group K with a maximum 24 points from their eight games.
A second-string French side overcome a nervous start to beat Azerbaijan 3-1 away and wrap up their campaign after having already qualified. Coach Didier Deschamps rotated his entire line-up after Les Bleus sealed their spot against Ukraine on Thursday.
France top Europe’s Group D with 16 points from six games after goals by Jean-Philippe Mateta and Maghnes Akliouche plus an own goal from Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev helped them recover from Renat Dadashov’s opener.
Portugal thrashed Armenia 9-1 in their final Group F qualifier to qualify as group toppers, with Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves leading the charge with a hat-trick each.
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Zubkov powered home a header late in the second half and Oleksii Hutsuliak added a second goal to book their spot in the playoffs for next year’s World Cup as they beat Group D rivals Iceland 2-0 in Warsaw.
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