England 7 North Macedonia 0: Saka scores stunning hat-trick as ruthless Three Lions run riot to continue 100% record
HARRY KANE was almost teasing and tormenting those Manchester United fans in the Stretford End.
They were hoping this was a glimpse of the future, a goal combination they see on a regular basis next season in the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford played a clever ball to Luke Shaw and his cross was dispatched with ease by Harry Kane.
The England captain celebrated in the corner, the area where the loudest fans are located during home matches, although sadly for the Old Trafford regulars here, they can keep dreaming, but this will not become a reality next season.
However much tapping-up Luke Shaw may have done, it will not do anything to change the mind of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy who will not sell to another English team.
But Kane was at his best here, not so much that he scored the first goal and the seventh, from the penalty spot, but that he also had a hand in three of the other strikes.
England’s brilliant, brutal demolition was a surprise because North Macedonia are no Malta. They are a stubborn, if unspectacular side, and were still good enough to beat Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final last year.
Yet Gareth Southgate’s side showed absolutely no mercy to deliver a type of international scoreline we very rarely see at this level.
The headline grabber was a hat-trick from Bukayo Saka in the space of 13 minutes.
He is the youngest England player to grab three goals since Theo Walcott in 2008 and what an incredible future he has both for his country and Arsenal.
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But Saka, along with all the other younger players, have the perfect role model to look up to in Kane, who now looks certain to remain at Tottenham next season.
He is certainly no party animal. Not like certain members of the Manchester City squad. Yet Kane is more interested in smashing records hitting the bar.
England’s leading scorer has scored 58 goals in 84 games and has finished the season with 40 goals for club and country.
But the reason why England continue to evolve as a team and are one of the favourites to win Euro2024 is because of the other ammunition which Gareth Southgate can throw at teams.
Saka, naturally, continues to thrive and is already one of the brightest talents in Europe. Another one, Jude Bellingham, played no part due to injury while the other United left-back
Shaw has also been trying to tempt Declan Rice into a United switch. Rice has become a formidable opponent in central midfield although this was one of his easier nights but as this was his 64th game of the season, he deserved a decent night.
Even Trent Alexander-Arnold ended a difficult season on a high. He once again played in central midfield and although the Liverpool right-back needs many more matches in this area, he once again contributed with a killer 50 yard pass for Saka to make it 4-0.
It is now four wins from four Euro2024 qualifiers so already, their campaign is effectively over for England, even though Southgate will claim the opposite.
But considering the England manager and his team was booed off the pitch at Molineux last year after a 4-0 loss to Hungary, he can at least go off on his summer holidays with peace of mind.
North Macedonia did a decent job in frustrating England but they lost their organisation and concentration once Kane scored after 29 minutes.
Rashford played a nice pass between the legs of Stefan Ristovski, who had a bandaged head after a nasty clash of heads with Kane. Shaw delivered the chance, although his pass was bobbling, but Kane was still never going to miss.
Kane was also involved in the initial build-up to the second goal, along with Alexander-Arnold, and Saka controlled Kyle Walker’s cross before delivering a thumping near-post effort.
Keeper Stole Dimitrievski could have done better although he stopped a third by keeping out a close-range shot from Rashford.
Yet a minute later he was beaten by Rashford who was presented with an easy chance by Jordan Henderson but only after that good work from Kane.
At the start of the second half, Saka smashed the goal of the night with a brilliant half-volley after a terrific long-range pass from Alexander-Arnold.
And the Arsenal player again showed real composure with a controlled finish which was only made possible due to an outstanding pass by Kane.
While he won’t be getting this at Old Trafford again, but there was a huge cheer when Jack Grealish trotted onto the pitch.
He proved he has recovered after three days on the lash and his cross was not cleared before Kalvin Phillips grabbed his first England goal from close range.
Kane’s last moment of the game was to convert a penalty, after John Stones was hauled to the ground by Egzon Bejtulai, and the skipper received a standing ovation.
He then headed over to the home dugout although next season, without a doubt, Kane will be back in the away seats.