Sluggish Kane mirrors dull England as Scots hang tough
England failed to fire as key striker Harry Kane and co struggled to match a brave Scotland in the Euros at Wembley, in their 115th clash.
Not even with the Premier League’s top scorer could England find a way past Scotland.
Maybe Harry Kane was as much as the problem as the solution.
On his good days, Kane is one of the game’s ultimate goal threats for both Tottenham and England. But the sluggish striker never came close to scoring in the 0-0 draw between the two teams yesterday at the European Championship.
The England captain barely even touched the ball and yet coach Gareth Southgate persisted with him for 74 draining minutes at Wembley Stadium in his 60th game this season for club and his country.
‘‘It was a tough game,’’ Kane said. ‘‘Scotland defended really well, made great blocks at the right times when we did have chances.’’
England defender John Stones had one of those chances when hit the post with a header in the 11th minute and Mason Mount had another when his shot was deflected wide at the start of the second half.
Scotland’s best opportunity to get the winning goal came when forward Lyndon Dykes had a shot cleared off the line by defender Reece James in the 63rd.
‘‘We have got to look at the whole performance, the use of the ball and review where we can be better,’’ Southgate said. ‘‘So it’s not just about one person. Scotland, I thought, marked him [Kane] extremely well. With the back five [defence] there wasn’t a lot of space.’’
Kane looked as exhausted as England looked devoid of ideas against the dogged and wellmarshalled Scots, who lost their Group D opener to the Czech Republic, but still have a chance to advance to the round of 16.
‘‘I thought we were unfairly criticized after the[Czech] game,’’
Scotland coach Steve Clarke said.
‘‘We worked ever so hard when England had the ball but the great thing is we played when we had the ball and had some chances.’’
The English will advance as group winners with a victory on Wednesday against the Czech Republic, who also have four points from two games. Scotland and Croatia have one point each.
The heatwave in London when England opened Euro 2020 by beating Croatia 1-0 was replaced by a chilly downpour for the 115th meeting with Scotland — and a first 0-0 draw between the neighbours at Wembley.
For the renewal of football’s oldest rivalry there was something of a throwback with Scotland playing two strikers, Dykes and Che Adams.
England’s only changes were in defence with fullback Kieran Trippier dropped and Kyle Walker not even making the bench. Southgate decided to bring back a specialist left back in Luke Shaw, with James on the right.
The backline allowed the opposition far more space and Stephen O’Donnell found a way through to force a one-handed save from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 30th minute.
‘‘At times we kept the ball superbly well and frustrated them,’’ Scotland captain Andy Robertson said, ‘‘and on another night we could have come away with more.’’
Midfielder Jack Grealish came on for Phil Foden in 63rd, but Scotland wouldn’t buckle. And by the time Southgate made his second and final change — despite being able to make five — Marcus Rashford lacked the time to make an impact as Kane’s replacement.
The goal never came, with England managing only one shot on target. No wonder the fourthranked team were booed off after being held by a team 40 places lower in the Fifa rankings.
‘‘I totally understand their reaction,’’ Southgate said. ‘‘They will be frustrated by that.’’