Harry Kane set a near-century record by scoring 16 goals for England in 2021. England captain Harry Kane scored four first-half goals, including two penalties, to put England 6-0 up at halftime.
Kane’s 12 goals tied him with George Hilsdon in 1908 and Dixie Dean in 1927. Kane was on nine Three Lions goals for the year just last week, but now has seven in days to beat the 93-year-old record.
Kane is the fourth England player to score a hat-trick in successive games, joining Dean, Vivian Woodward, and Tommy Taylor. Harry Maguire and Bukayo Saka scored for England in San Marino before Kane scored a penalty after Dante Rossi’s handball. Phil Foden’s acrobatic volley flew wide but hit Rossi’s fingertips, who had his arm in the air.
Kane scored England’s third and fourth penalties in the 27th and 30th minutes, respectively. Kane shot first-time into the bottom corner after several players missed Smith Rowe’s cross. Kane scored his fifth hat-trick for England and second in two games with a 39th-minute penalty.
Kane earned the penalty after Alessandro D’Addario handled his header.
He then scored his fourth goal with neat footwork and a smart finish to cap off another impressive 45 minutes in an England shirt. During the half-time break, Ian Wright and Roy Keane heaped praise on the Three Lions captain, dubbing him a ‘elite’ scorer. ‘When you’re an elite goalscorer, you can only beat what’s put in front of you,’ Wright said during the halftime break.
