Harry Kane scored a hat-trick as England maintained their perfect start to Euro 2020 qualification with a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria at Wembley.
The England captain broke the deadlock midway through the first half, slotting home from six yards after Bulgaria’s insistence to play out from the back was punished by Raheem Sterling.
After a subdued first-half display, England hit full stride in the second period. Kane doubled his tally from the penalty spot within four minutes of the restart, after Marcus Rashford was brought down in the box, and then returned the favour to Sterling, squaring the ball for the Manchester City forward to add England’s third on 55 minutes.
Kane dusted himself down after being bundled to ground in the area on 73 minutes and completed his hat-trick with another emphatic penalty that restored Gareth Southgate’s side to the top of Group A.
Bulgaria set up in a 5-4-1 and looked to shut up shop, and though they did have the first half chance of the game as Jordan Pickford denied Marcelinho’s deflected effort, England finally broke them down on 24 minutes.
Trying to play out in a triangle with his defenders from a goal kick, Plamen Iliev’s loose pass fell straight to Sterling, who got to the byline and turned the ball back for Kane to slot home from six yards.
Bulgaria continued to retreat despite the goal, and though England eventually turned it on after the break, it came after a fine chance for a leveller. After playing a fine one-two, Wanderson’s half volley from an angle was saved well by Pickford, and moments later England had daylight.
