Malta 0-4 England: Harry Kane scores twice
(September 01 2017)
Harry Kane began September by bringing his mini scoring drought to a timely end, but the way Gareth Southgate's England toiled to victory in Malta underlines just how much work needs to be done ahead of the World Cup.
It surely remains a case of when, rather than if, the Three Lions secure their place in Russia next summer, but the underwhelming nature of their display at the Ta' Qali National Stadium raises concerns.
England are 18/1 to win the World Cup. Germany, France, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Belgium and Italy are all ahead of them in the outright odds.
Malta are ranked joint 190th in the world behind American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Brunei and Bangladesh, yet it took Kane's second-half strike and a late flurry of goals from Ryan Bertrand, Danny Welbeck and the Tottenham striker to eventually secure a flattering 4-0 win.
England's 3,700 travelling fans resorted to gallows humour during a dire first half as their side lacked inspiration, drive and intent.
Andre Schembri gave England a scare shortly after the break, only for Kane - who had endured another barren August - to quickly retaliate by slotting home after patient play by Dele Alli.
Bertrand's long-range strike - his first international goal - added gloss five minutes before time, beginning a Malta collapse that soon saw Welbeck and Kane score.
The scoreline could not divert attention from a poor overall display, though, and improvements will be needed at home to Group F's second-placed side Slovakia on Monday, never mind the World Cup.
Post-match reaction
England captain Jordan Henderson felt it was a "professional performance" which eventually broke down a stubborn Malta side before a late flurry secured a 4-0 win, but accepts there is still "a lot to improve on."
Liverpool midfielder Henderson said on ITV1: "They were difficult to break down in the first half and we were taking chances where maybe we didn't need to - but to break them down you have to do that.
"At half-time we knew we had to keep going and persevering, and thankfully we managed to get some good goals in the end."
Henderson added: "Of course we have got a lot to improve on and will look back on the performance tomorrow and the day after - but I thought it was a professional performance.
"We were solid at the back, kept persevering and managed to get the goals in the end, so there are a lot of positives to come out of it, as well as a lot of improvements as well."
Harry Kane felt England could reflect on a job well done in the end.
"When you come away to a place like this. it was never going to be easy from the start, but we knew if we kept moving it, then the chances would come and 4-0 is a good result," he said.
"They put all the men behind the ball so you have to make sure your chances are spot on and probably they weren't in the first half - but we knew just create the space then we would get chances."