England secure spot in group of top seeds

EURO 2020: Three Lions too strong as late flurry sees off warm hosts Kosovo

KOSOVO 0 ENGLAND 4

England head to Euro 2020 among the top seeds after goals from Harry Winks, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount saw Gareth Southgate’s men overcome Kosovo 4-0.

Already assured of top spot in Group A and their pool matches being played at Wembley, the Three Lions knew they risked dropping out of the group of seeded sides for next summer’s European Championship unless they overcame tricky opposition in Pristina.

England wobbled at times at the rocking Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, but Winks and Mount’s first international goals bookended a victory which also saw Kane and Rashford on target, on a night when the reception was more memorable than the match itself.

The United Kingdom was part of the international coalition which forced the Serbian forces to withdraw following clashes with ethnic Albanians in the territory in the late 1990s, with England’s first match in Kosovo allowing the locals to show their gratitude.

Visiting fans and players have been shown unprecedented warmth in Pristina, where specially made ‘Welcome and Respect’ T-shirts and banners were complemented by hundreds of St George’s crosses around the city.

There were thousands more English flags on display in the ground before kick-off as the Kosovan fans displayed cards during ‘God Save the Queen’ – a remarkable build-up that was followed by a comparatively underwhelming encounter.

Winks’ first-half effort calmed some nerves, with Kane, Rashford and Mount adding second-half gloss to a win that sees them among the top six sides for the draw at the end of this month.

Southgate made five changes from Thursday’s 7-0 hammering of Montenegro, with Raheem Sterling returning to the line-up following his skirmish with team-mate Joe Gomez.

Nick Pope came in for his first international start as part of those alterations, with the Burnley goalkeeper denying the imposing Atdhe Nuhiu as Kosovo looked to catch England cold like they did in September.

Lax defensive play allowed Winks to break through the middle of the park.

Found by Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, the Tottenham midfielder’s first touch took him around Ibrahim Dresevic and behind the Kosovan back line, before showing impressive composure to slot home.

Kane put the game to bed in the 79th minute, firing home at the far post after Sterling’s cross looped up, and became the first England player to score in every match in a qualification campaign. The home side wilted at this point. Sterling fed substitute Rashford to make it 3-0 with a fine, low finish, with Mount bending home his first senior goal in stoppage time after Chelsea team-mate Fikayo Tomori came on for his debut.

Picture: PA. Harry Kane wheels away after scoring his goal – and England’s second – in Pristina.