The finalists of the last Euro had done the hardest part on Thursday by winning in Greece (3-0) but needed a victory in front of 80,000 spectators at Wembley to finish first in Group 2 of League B, tied on points ( 15) with Greece.
The game is unlocked in the second half after the exclusion of Liam Scales and a penalty of Kane (53rd), immediately followed by the goals d’Anthony Gordon (55th) and Connor Gallagher (58e). Jarrod Bowen (75e) one Taylor Harwood-Bellis (79th) worsened the score.
After a first period without relief, where the only opportunity was a shot over Kyle Walker (5th), the light came from Harry Kane, started after being started on the bench in Athens, for the benefit of Ollie Watkins. A bright opening behind the Irish defense put Jude Bellingham in an ideal position to score… Which forced Liam Scales to pick it up and collect a second yellow card, converted into a red. Kane converted the penalty.
This almost decisive pass in Bellingham comes at the best time for the Bayern Munich striker, 10th in the last Ballon d’Or, judged by some observers less compatible than Watkins with the Real Madrid midfielder.
The 30-year-old was also targeted by criticism after calling the nine players absent from this training to their international duty, due to sometimes minor injuries.
This controversy occurs in a context of contestation of the interest of this League of Nations, to which three “windows” have been dedicated since September in an already overloaded calendar, a first.
While the English Federation has designated the German Thomas Tuchel as future coach a few weeks ago, he will not take office until January 1, with the primary objective of qualifying the selection for the 2026 World Cup.
Senegal
