THEY are the Harry Kane team.
Pep was the first to call it, christening Tottenham with the unflattering title after Kane scored 13 times for club and country in September. England are utterly, totally, worryingly dependant on him as well.
The country’s captain scored the 94th minute winner against Slovenia last Friday to book England’s place at the World Cup.
Kane scored again here, his seventh in his last six internationals, as England finished off their qualifying campaign.
They are pinning their hopes on one man. There is no alternative. The goal came from the spot, despatched with class and composure after Dele Alli had been tripped by Lithuania full back Linas Klimavicius.
Kane made no mistake from the spot in the 27th minute.
He is the only hope England have.
All those changes, with head coach Gareth Southgate giving caps to Harry Maguire and little Harry Winks, was a bold move. This latest formation, with England playing 3-4-3, gives the impression it is all down tactics.
The reality is that is about the personnel.
Lithuania rarely threatened, but Jack Butland did make a decent save when England defender Michael Keane nearly put through his own net in the 54th minute.
England were ordinary again here, with Marcus Rashford and Winks standing out on another mediocre England night. Winks, wearing Mike Tyson-style mid-cut black ankle boots, forced a flying save from Lithuania keeper Ernestas Setkus at the start of the second half.
Setkus saved well again when Aaron Creswell’s header forced him across goal to prevent England scoring a second.
Beyond that, this was yet another bang average performance.
From The Sun
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