England bank on captain Kane to clinch 2018 World Cup spot
WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION Three Lions need just two points from their next two games to qualify directly
LONDON: England will look to redhot Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane to fire them to the World Cup finals when they tackle Slovenia in their penultimate qualifying match on Thursday..
After a barren August, 24-year-old Kane hit brilliant form in September, scoring 13 goals in eight matches for club and country. He will lead England in this game.
Victory over Slovenia at Wembley will give England a place at next year’s World Cup in Russia and with Kane scoring goals so freely, his team-mates will take to the field buoyed by an extra measure of belief.
“He is hot, isn’t he?” goalkeeper Joe Hart said.
“He is scoring just as many goals as the people we have related to as world-class and he has been doing it for many seasons. Harry gets put in that bracket and deserves to be.
“He has (Mauricio) Pochettino, one of the hottest managers in the world, who regards him highly and there are reasons for that.
“Harry is just brilliant at what he does and he is just one of the best out there. He keeps scoring goals and you cannot ask for any more than that. Long may it continue in an England shirt.”
Since Kane returned to the international fold at the end of last season following a spate of injuries, his goals have helped to keep Gareth Southgate’s England side on course for qualification.
SLOVENIA NOT AFRAID
Five points clear of Slovakia at the top of UEFA qualifying Group F, England need just two points from Thursday’s game and Sunday’s trip to Lithuania to reach the World Cup for the sixth time in succession.
But having been held to a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture against Slovenia a year ago, they know that completing the job at the first time of asking will be no foregone conclusion.
Third in the group, Slovenia trail Slovakia by a point and are above Scotland on goal difference in a knife-edge battle for a play-off berth.
While Slovenia captain Bostjan Cesar is conscious of the threat posed by Kane and his team-mates, he says his team will approach the game with no sense of inferiority.
“I saw Kane is in great form, but England have several other quality players too,” said Bostjan Cesar.
“We respect England, but we are not afraid of them. Last time we played them at home and it was easier. Now we have to be focused for the whole match, otherwise we could be punished.” 9:30 PM
Azerbaijan v Czech Republic 12:15 AM (FRI)
Northern Ireland v Germany San Marino v Norway
A win or draw for Germany will make sure they qualify for Russia. Northern Ireland need to win both their remaining games and hope Germany lose both to have a chance of automatic qualification. They are assured of a play-off spot however. Other teams are out of contention. 9:30 PM
Armenia v Poland
12:15 AM (FRI) Montenegro v Denmark Romania v Kazakhstan
Poland, Montenegro and Denmark can all take either first or second place. Poland are 3 points ahead but have an worse GD. Poland could qualify if they win their match and the match between the other two ends in a draw. The two would then be fighting for a play-off spot. 12:15 AM (FRI) England v Slovenia Malta v Lithuania Scotland v Slovakia A win over Slovenia will seal England’s place in next year’s world cup, however if the Three Lions both their remaining games Slovakia can trump them for an automatic place. Realistically though Slovakia will be looking over their shoulders to fend off the challenge of Scotland and Slovenia for a play-off spot.