HARRY’S HOUDINI
Late magic from Kane gets Three Lions out of jail
HARRY KANE saved England last night – and proved to boss Gareth Southgate he is more than capable of making an impact on the biggest stage.
The Tottenham striker had not played in any of Southgate’s previous six matches in charge due to injury problems.
But he was made captain by Southgate against Scotland and rescued the England boss from an embarrassing defeat with an added-time equaliser.
That was one of three goals in a sensational last six minutes, with Leigh Griffiths scoring two brilliant free-kicks for Scotland to take the lead.
Kane’s equaliser, to make it 2-2, came in the third minute of added time.
And that precious goal extended England’s unbeaten run in World Cup and Euro qualifiers to 35 matches.
The Three Lions also remained top of their qualifying group on the road to Russia – still six points clear of Scotland.
Southgate (right) said: “I never thought this was going to end in defeat – even after Griffiths’ two moments of brilliance with those free-kicks.
“When the board went up and there were four minutes remaining, I still had hope that we could score again.
“We showed huge character.”
THERE was no escaping the raw intensity of England planting their Sassenach feet into hostile territory.
Scotland’s fiercely loyal supporters, wearing Tam O’Shanter headgear, kilts, dirks and sporrans, surrounded Hampden Park lying in wait for the Auld Enemy.
Security, naturally, was at the highest level in view of the latest terror atrocities – with machine gun carrying police officers ringing the famous old coliseum of football.
Their colleagues lined every train station platform en route to Glasgow, in scary scenes so necessary with the current threat level set so high.
But the brave cops were “friendly” in comparison to the hardened hordes of Tartan fans, praying with all their partisan hearts that their heroes could send England back over Hadrian’s Wall with their tails between their legs.
“Welcome to the Lion’s Den” was the declaration on high outside the stadium, to hopefully send a shiver down the spine of every visitor from across the border.
“This Time” boasted the match programme, where Scots boss Gordon Strachan happily revealed how much this infamous fixture has marked his life.
Back in 1977, Strach honeymooned with new bride Lesley at Wembley and joked that his wedding gift to her was a pitch invasion, before helping himself to a sod of the lush turf.
Forty years later there was definitely no welcome mat on the doorstep.
England boss Gareth Southgate and his troops had spent 48 hours in the build up roughing it at a Royal Marines boot camp.
Now was the time for hard labour, in a showdown which rarely passes off without incident when these rival nations come together.
The rivalry was highlighted by the English fans taunting their counterparts with the old Kevin Keegan song, reworded to say “Cheer up Gordon Strachan” – and ending with toilet humour.
Then came a chorus of God Save The Queen – a thundering, heartfelt rendering greeted with a crescendo of jeers and boos from every pro-Scottish corner of Hampden.
Flower of Scotland, led by a lone piper, met the same kind of disgusting derision.
Not a tribal gathering then for the faint-hearted.
Thank God, and Harry then, that we had Three Lion-hearted marauders prepared for a bear-pit mentality and who were definitely up for the scrap.
In new captain Harry Kane, his Tottenham team-mate Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, we have a gang of three not afraid to stand up and be counted.
Our future is safe in the hands of this talented trio as the battle for World Cup qualification gathers pace.
Alli’s threat was registered by Scott Brown, who only took three minutes to brutally go through the Spurs superstar and earn the first booking of this shivering showdown. Game on. Battle on. There was the unsurprising surge of optimism amid the packed terraces and out on the pitch where Scotland started with fervour.
They threatened in droves. They attacked with serious intent as Strachan raced to the touchline, pointing in the direction of England’s goal. Obvious tactic that Strach. England needed no such guidance from Gareth Southgate as Kane had a couple of dabbles and Rashford saw his low shot squirm wide of the post as a surge in English confidence pinned the Scots back in their box.
For too long, though, there were periods of drabness as England took the sting out of Scotland scorpion’s tale.
It was never going to be a classic, when hearts rule heads so much.
But when the going got tough, the tough got going and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain secured the breakthrough after just four minutes of action.
He wriggled through a hesitant Tartan defence and made room on his left before sneaking his shot past keeper Craig Gordon, who flapped with no real intent.
The goal completely flattened the Scots until Leigh Griffiths lifted brave hearts with a free-kick out of Joe Hart’s reach, just when England believed they had got another three points on the road to Russia.
Griffiths got his second with two minutes left, again from a set-piece, and the roar of a bouncing Hampden was still ringing in English ears until Kane struck at the death.
Then they headed over the hills and far away. No tails between their legs.