Harry Kane on Thursday became England’s all-time leading goalscorer as the Three Lions enjoyed a perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying by winning 2-1 away to Italy, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice when winning his record 197th cap in Portugal’s 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Kane netted his 54th goal for England in his 81st international appearance from the penalty spot in Naples after Declan Rice had fired the visitors into an early lead.
The England captain moves clear of the record mark he had shared with Wayne Rooney.
Photo: Reuters
“Thanks to everyone who’s helped me get to this stage. It’s a great night. We haven’t won in Italy for so long so to score, and win this game, is just special,” Kane said.
Gareth Southgate’s men gained some measure of revenge for their defeat by the Azzurri in the Euro 2020 final.
In their first match since bowing out in agonizing fashion to France in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, England were dominant in the first 45 minutes.
Rice rifled home his third international goal on 13 minutes after Italy failed to clear a corner.
Another set-piece led to Kane’s record-breaking moment as Giovanni di Lorenzo handled inside the penalty area.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker banished the memories of his missed penalty late on against France in Doha by sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way, but Italy rallied after halftime when Argentine-born striker Mateo Retegui fired home on his international debut.
England were forced to see out the final 10 minutes a man down after two quickfire yellow cards for Luke Shaw, but they held out for their first win away to Italy since 1961.
“We feel like we are one of the best teams in Europe,” Kane said. “Coming here and putting in a performance like that today shows we are ready for the next challenge.”
In the other game in Group C, North Macedonia beat Malta 2-1.
Ronaldo marked Roberto Martinez’s bow as Portugal boss with another historic night in Lisbon.
The 38-year-old, who was dropped from the Portugal starting lineup during the World Cup, set a new record for men’s international appearances by passing the previous mark of 196 caps held by Kuwait’s Bader al-Mutawa.
Joao Cancelo fired home the opening goal after just eight minutes, but it was not until Bernardo Silva doubled Portugal’s lead early in the second half that the floodgates opened.
Ronaldo made it 3-0 from the penalty spot, before blasting home a free-kick from the edge of the penalty area for his 120th international goal.
“It’s a new cycle. It is very important that a player shows commitment and that he can use his experience,” Martinez said. “Cristiano has that: A lot of experience and a lot of commitment to the national team.”
In the same group, Rade Krunic scored twice as Bosnia and Herzegovina swept aside Iceland 3-0, but Slovakia, who have qualified for the past two Euros, were held 0-0 at home by Luxembourg.
Euro 2020 semi-finalists Denmark bounced back from their disappointing early exit at the World Cup to beat Finland 3-1 in Copenhagen.
Atalanta BC forward Rasmus Hojlund scored a hat-trick for Denmark in his first start for his national team.
Elsewhere in Group H, Dion Charles scored twice as Northern Ireland won 2-0 in San Marino, while Slovenia came from behind to win 2-1 away to Kazakhstan.
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