LONDON: 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 Friday 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 his 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 extremely well. With the back five there wasn’t a lot of space.”
There was a shot from Kane in the 59th, but it was tame and was blocked by the defense.
Kane looked as exhausted as England looked devoid of ideas against the dogged and well-marshalled 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 game on Monday,” 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 Tuesday against the Czech Republic, which also has four points from two games. Scotland and Croatia, who also meet on Tuesday, have one point each.
The heatwave in London when England opened Euro 2020 by beating Croatia was replaced by a chilly downpour for the 115th meeting with Scotland — and a first 0-0 draw between the neighbors at Wembley.
What also changed from Sunday was the stadium speakers blaring out the Euro 2020 official song, “We Are the People,” to drown out the smattering of boos that again greeted players taking a knee in their anti-racism gesture before kickoff.
For the renewal of soccer’s oldest rivalry there was something of a throwback with Scotland playing two strikers: Dykes and Che Adams.
England’s only changes from the 1-0 win over Croatia were in defense with 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 for the technical ability and to rotate the squad.
The back line 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 Andrew Robertson said, “and on another night we could have come away with more.”
The pandemic-restricted crowd of 22,000, most of them England fans, roared when Jack Grealish was shown on the big screens on the England bench. The clamor was for an injection of his creativity.
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.
“We needed a few more runs behind,” Southgate said. “I felt Marcus would give us that energy and had to try to get the win at that point.”
The goal never came, with England managing only one shot on target. No wonder the fourth-ranked team was booed off by its own fans after being held by a team 40 places lower in the FIFA rankings.
“I totally understand their reaction,” Southgate said. “We are expected to beat Scotland. They will be frustrated by that.”
Kane struggles as England held 0-0 by Scotland at Euro 2020
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Kane struggles as England held 0-0 by Scotland at Euro 2020
FIA confirms path for World Rally Championship’s return to US
- Success of candidate event, with stages assessed in Kentucky and Tennessee, would open the door to a WRC round in the US from 2027
- Mohammed Ben Sulayem: It is a nation where motor sport is part of the cultural DNA
DUBAI: The International Automobile Federation is stepping up plans for the FIA World Rally Championship to return to the US, with the announcement of a WRC candidate event for mid-2026.
The event will run from June 11-17 and has been organized in collaboration with the US Automobile Competition Committee. FIA delegates at the event will assess every aspect of rally organization, from sporting operations to safety protocols.
The goal is to evaluate the potential for hosting a full WRC round, and a successful event will pave the way for the US to rejoin the WRC calendar in 2027, marking a milestone for both the championship and rallying in the country.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said that the US represents one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA World Rally Championship.
“It is a nation where motor sport is part of the cultural DNA, with world-class domestic championships and a rapidly growing appetite for global competition. I am deeply committed to strengthening the FIA’s presence in the US and ensuring that rallying becomes a defining pillar of that future,” he said.
“With five FIA-sanctioned events already established across three FIA World Championships across the nation, the foundations are firmly in place. Now is the time to build on that momentum.
“Expanding the WRC into North America would not only enhance the championship’s global reach, but connect rallying with a knowledgeable, passionate, and expanding fanbase in a market where participation and engagement continue to accelerate and grow.”
FIA delegates will inspect the candidate event’s stages and infrastructure in Kentucky and Tennessee, gaining first-hand insight into the terrain and facilities.
The program will also include a visit to a round of the American Rally Association National Championship, offering the FIA team a chance to engage directly with the US rally community, including organizers, volunteers, and fans.
Delegates will meet with the proposed event promoter and organizer, Podium Event Partners, which has long-established experience across multiple motor sport disciplines, including NASCAR.
With a deep-rooted history in the US, rallying has seen a renewed momentum in recent years driven by grassroots participation and the strength of the ARA National Championship.
The potential return of the WRC to the US reflects the joint ambition of FIA and WRC Promoter to expand its global footprint in a country with a rich motor sport heritage and a growing appetite for rallying, opening a thrilling new chapter in the world’s premier rally series.
FIA Deputy President for Sport Malcolm Wilson said that confirmation of a FIA World Rally Championship candidate event in the US is a first step toward bringing the championship to the country, offering a valuable opportunity to assess the proposed stages and service park concept.
“ACCUS plays a central role in this process, bringing significant experience and leadership within American motor sport, and the FIA will work closely with ACCUS and the event organizers to evaluate the event and support its continued development to ensure it meets FIA World Rally Championship standards.”
