England bounced back from their first tournament qualifying defeat for ten&nbsp;years with a 6-0 thrashing of toothless Bulgaria on Monday in a Euro 2020 Group A clash marred by racist incidents in the first half that stopped the game.

The match at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the referee in the first half under a three-step <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-trust-uefa-to-deal-with-racist-abuse-southgate-255129">UEFA protocol</a> to tackle racist abuse from the crowd.

Racist chanting was heard from the stands and reported by England players to manager Gareth Southgate, with the referee informed and a public announcement made on two occasions.

"The officials were onto everything very quickly," said Southgate. "We reported everything very quickly when we heard things."

"I explained to the players that if anything else did happen in the second half we would be coming off. We all saw the second half was calmer and that allowed our players to do their talking with the football."

Most of the Bulgaria players and coach Krasimir Balakov said they had not heard any abuse of the England team.

"It's a very delicate subject," Balakov told reporters. "I do not think there is a single person in Bulgaria who would say that racism is something pleasant."

"But at the same time, it is very strange how this topic is interpreted in football. I have heard absolutely nothing (during the game)."

On the pitch, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling both netted twice after Marcus Rashford got the opener and captain Harry Kane finished off the rout, Bulgaria's heaviest home defeat, as the visitors recovered from a<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-says-englands-defeat-to-czech-republic-is-a-wakeup-call-255480"> 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic</a> on Friday.

England, who moved closer to a place at Euro 2020, are top of the group with 15 points from six games, three ahead of the Czechs and four in front of Kosovo who beat Montenegro 2-0.

England debutant Tyrone Mings was an early victim of racist abuse, turning towards the fans when chants were aimed in his direction. Croatian referee Ivan Bebek stopped the game in the 28th minute after Raheem Sterling was a target for abuse.

A public announcement condemned the racist abuse before stating that the match would be abandoned if it continued.

The game was stopped again in the 43rd minute but resumed after the referee consulted England manager Gareth Southgate.

A group of black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were making right-wing salutes, were moved from an area behind the dugout with home team captain Ivelin Popov trying to appeal to the supporters in a heated discussion at halftime.

Popov did not even go to the dressing room, attempting to explain to fans that their behaviour was unacceptable.

European soccer governing body UEFA had ordered the Bulgarian Football Union to partially close the Vasil Levski national stadium for England's visit after supporters were found guilty of racist behaviour in matches earlier this year.

On the pitch, Barkley struck twice after Rashford score in the seventh minute as Southgate’s side highlighted the gap in quality with the hosts before Sterling netted before halftime.

England’s victory was rounded off by Sterling's second goal midway through the second half and a cool finish from Kane five minutes from the end against bottom side Bulgaria.

"We have no class," coach Krasimir Balakov said of his side. "I understand all the people who have bought tickets and wanted something different, but against this England team, with this dynamic, and with these players that cost millions...".

The game was being played in front of a reduced crowd after UEFA ordered a partial stadium closure due to racist behaviour by Bulgarian supporters in June's qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo.

Racism was a major talking point ahead of the game, with England striker Tammy Abraham indicating last week that the players could act as a group and leave the pitch if subjected to abuse.

Bulgarian supporters made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) 40,000 euros.&nbsp;

England bounced back from their first tournament qualifying defeat for ten years with a 6-0 thrashing of toothless Bulgaria on Monday in a Euro 2020 Group A clash marred by racist incidents in the first half that stopped the game.

England bounced back from their first tournament qualifying defeat for ten years with a 6-0 thrashing of toothless Bulgaria on Monday in a Euro 2020 Group A clash marred by racist incidents in the first half that stopped the game. The match at the Vasil Levski stadium was temporarily halted by the referee in the first half under a three-step UEFA protocol to tackle racist abuse from the crowd. Racist chanting was heard from the stands and reported by England players to manager Gareth Southgate, with the referee informed and a public announcement made on two occasions. "The officials were onto everything very quickly," said Southgate. "We reported everything very quickly when we heard things." "I explained to the players that if anything else did happen in the second half we would be coming off. We all saw the second half was calmer and that allowed our players to do their talking with the football." Most of the Bulgaria players and coach Krasimir Balakov said they had not heard any abuse of the England team. "It's a very delicate subject," Balakov told reporters. "I do not think there is a single person in Bulgaria who would say that racism is something pleasant." "But at the same time, it is very strange how this topic is interpreted in football. I have heard absolutely nothing (during the game)." On the pitch, Ross Barkley and Raheem Sterling both netted twice after Marcus Rashford got the opener and captain Harry Kane finished off the rout, Bulgaria's heaviest home defeat, as the visitors recovered from a 2-1 loss to the Czech Republic on Friday. England, who moved closer to a place at Euro 2020, are top of the group with 15 points from six games, three ahead of the Czechs and four in front of Kosovo who beat Montenegro 2-0. England debutant Tyrone Mings was an early victim of racist abuse, turning towards the fans when chants were aimed in his direction. Croatian referee Ivan Bebek stopped the game in the 28th minute after Raheem Sterling was a target for abuse. A public announcement condemned the racist abuse before stating that the match would be abandoned if it continued. The game was stopped again in the 43rd minute but resumed after the referee consulted England manager Gareth Southgate. A group of black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were making right-wing salutes, were moved from an area behind the dugout with home team captain Ivelin Popov trying to appeal to the supporters in a heated discussion at halftime. Popov did not even go to the dressing room, attempting to explain to fans that their behaviour was unacceptable. European soccer governing body UEFA had ordered the Bulgarian Football Union to partially close the Vasil Levski national stadium for England's visit after supporters were found guilty of racist behaviour in matches earlier this year. On the pitch, Barkley struck twice after Rashford score in the seventh minute as Southgate’s side highlighted the gap in quality with the hosts before Sterling netted before halftime. England’s victory was rounded off by Sterling's second goal midway through the second half and a cool finish from Kane five minutes from the end against bottom side Bulgaria. "We have no class," coach Krasimir Balakov said of his side. "I understand all the people who have bought tickets and wanted something different, but against this England team, with this dynamic, and with these players that cost millions...". The game was being played in front of a reduced crowd after UEFA ordered a partial stadium closure due to racist behaviour by Bulgarian supporters in June's qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo. Racism was a major talking point ahead of the game, with England striker Tammy Abraham indicating last week that the players could act as a group and leave the pitch if subjected to abuse. Bulgarian supporters made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) 40,000 euros.

Euro 2020 qualifier: England thrash Bulgaria as first half halted over racist chants

Racist abuse aimed at England players during a match against Bulgaria on Monday was vile and European football's governing body UEFA must do more to tackle such behaviour, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said on Tuesday.

The Euro 2020 qualifier between <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-thrash-bulgaria-after-game-halted-over-racist-abuse-255998">Bulgaria and England</a> in Sofia was twice halted by the referee after monkey noises and chants from the crowd were aimed at England's black players.

"The racism we saw and heard last night was vile and has no place in football or anywhere else," Johnson's spokesman said, adding there needed to be tough penalties in place to act as a real deterrent.

"UEFA need to face up to facts - this stain on football is not being adequately dealt with. Racism and discrimination must be driven out of football once and for all."

The British government will write to UEFA on Tuesday to ask for an investigation to be conducted swiftly, he said.

Racist abuse aimed at England players during a match against Bulgaria on Monday was vile and European football's governing body UEFA must do more to tackle such behaviour, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said on Tuesday.

Racist abuse aimed at England players during a match against Bulgaria on Monday was vile and European football's governing body UEFA must do more to tackle such behaviour, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said on Tuesday. The Euro 2020 qualifier between Bulgaria and England in Sofia was twice halted by the referee after monkey noises and chants from the crowd were aimed at England's black players. "The racism we saw and heard last night was vile and has no place in football or anywhere else," Johnson's spokesman said, adding there needed to be tough penalties in place to act as a real deterrent. "UEFA need to face up to facts - this stain on football is not being adequately dealt with. Racism and discrimination must be driven out of football once and for all." The British government will write to UEFA on Tuesday to ask for an investigation to be conducted swiftly, he said.

UEFA must do more to tackle 'vile' racism - UK PM Boris Johnson's spokesman

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out has criticised European football's governing body UEFA for failing to abandon Monday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-thrash-bulgaria-after-game-halted-over-racist-abuse-255998">Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria</a> after England's black players were subjected to monkey chants.

The game was twice halted in the first half, first when England manager Gareth Southgate informed the UEFA delegate about incidents and a public announcement was made.

The abuse continued and the Group A match, which England went on to win 6-0, was again temporarily suspended by the referee under a three-step UEFA protocol for tackling abuse.

UEFA said it would announce possible disciplinary proceedings later on Tuesday or on Wednesday once it had received full reports from match officials.

Around 50 black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were seen making Nazi salutes, left the stadium before halftime and the second half was completed without further stoppages.

Kick It Out said it was "sickened by the disgusting racist abuse" and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action.

"We are encouraged that the protocol was initially enforced by the match officials, but UEFA must explain why players weren't sent to the dressing room during Step Two, as is clearly stated in the rules," a statement read.

"TV footage also clearly shows that racist abuse continued in the second half, so it is unacceptable that Step Three was not enforced. This match should have been abandoned by the officials.

"It's now time for UEFA to step up and show some leadership. For far too long, they have consistently failed to take effective action."

The first step of UEFA's protocol was enacted after 28 minutes when England defender Tyrone Mings was subjected to abuse and an announcement was made calling on supporters to stop using racist chants.

The second step, according to UEFA's protocol, is for the players to be sent to the dressing rooms for a specified period.

This was never implemented in Sofia although UEFA said there had been a discussion with the England bench after the second incident and they had agreed to continue as it was so close to halftime.

Step three, according to UEFA, is "after consultation, abandon the match if the discriminatory behaviour still does not cease or breaks out again."

UEFA is yet to comment officially on the incidents.

The threat of racism had dominated the buildup to the game and part of the stadium was empty after UEFA punished Bulgaria for racist behaviour by fans during June's qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo.

Bulgarian supporters also made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) $44,072.

Kick It Out said the punishments were futile.

"The fact Bulgaria are already hosting this game with a partial stadium closure for racist abuse shows that UEFA's sanctions are not fit for purpose," it said.

"There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination -&nbsp;and if the Equal Game campaign means anything -&nbsp;then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow."

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out has criticised European football's governing body UEFA for failing to abandon Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria after England's black players were subjected to monkey chants.

Anti-racism organisation Kick It Out has criticised European football's governing body UEFA for failing to abandon Monday's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria after England's black players were subjected to monkey chants. The game was twice halted in the first half, first when England manager Gareth Southgate informed the UEFA delegate about incidents and a public announcement was made. The abuse continued and the Group A match, which England went on to win 6-0, was again temporarily suspended by the referee under a three-step UEFA protocol for tackling abuse. UEFA said it would announce possible disciplinary proceedings later on Tuesday or on Wednesday once it had received full reports from match officials. Around 50 black-clad Bulgarian fans, some of whom were seen making Nazi salutes, left the stadium before halftime and the second half was completed without further stoppages. Kick It Out said it was "sickened by the disgusting racist abuse" and suggested UEFA should have taken stronger action. "We are encouraged that the protocol was initially enforced by the match officials, but UEFA must explain why players weren't sent to the dressing room during Step Two, as is clearly stated in the rules," a statement read. "TV footage also clearly shows that racist abuse continued in the second half, so it is unacceptable that Step Three was not enforced. This match should have been abandoned by the officials. "It's now time for UEFA to step up and show some leadership. For far too long, they have consistently failed to take effective action." The first step of UEFA's protocol was enacted after 28 minutes when England defender Tyrone Mings was subjected to abuse and an announcement was made calling on supporters to stop using racist chants. The second step, according to UEFA's protocol, is for the players to be sent to the dressing rooms for a specified period. This was never implemented in Sofia although UEFA said there had been a discussion with the England bench after the second incident and they had agreed to continue as it was so close to halftime. Step three, according to UEFA, is "after consultation, abandon the match if the discriminatory behaviour still does not cease or breaks out again." UEFA is yet to comment officially on the incidents. The threat of racism had dominated the buildup to the game and part of the stadium was empty after UEFA punished Bulgaria for racist behaviour by fans during June's qualifiers against the Czechs and Kosovo. Bulgarian supporters also made monkey chants at visiting black players when England last travelled to Sofia for a European qualifier in 2011, prompting UEFA to fine the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) $44,072. Kick It Out said the punishments were futile. "The fact Bulgaria are already hosting this game with a partial stadium closure for racist abuse shows that UEFA's sanctions are not fit for purpose," it said. "There can be no more pitiful fines or short stadium bans. If UEFA care at all about tackling discrimination - and if the Equal Game campaign means anything - then points deductions and tournament expulsion must follow."

Euro 2020 qualifier: Anti-racism body says England game should have been abandoned

Harry Kane said that England's defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic on Saturday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers is a wakeup call for the team.

Kane took to Twitter and wrote, "Last night is a wake-up call for us. We have to be better and improve. Bulgaria next."

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Last night is a wake up call for us. We have to be better and improve. Bulgaria next. <a href="https://t.co/qGVGnfUD2e">pic.twitter.com/qGVGnfUD2e</a>
— Harry Kane (@HKane) <a href="https://twitter.com/HKane/status/1182937516099416064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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England had not lost either a World Cup or European Championship qualifier since 2009.

England was able to register an early goal. Kane converted the penalty in the fifth minute to give the Three Lions a 1-0 lead.

The Czech Republic did not have to wait a long time for the equalising goal as Jakub Brabec netted the ball in the 9th minute, bringing the scoreline to 1-1.

Both teams kept on making attacking moves in the first half, but they did not manage to register more goals and as a result, at the half-time mark, the scoreline remained 1-1.

In the second half, England got a chance in the 57th minute to take the lead but Sterling was denied by Czech Republic's goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik.

Zdenek Ondrasek defied the odds and registered a goal for the Czech Republic in the 85th minute to give the side a 2-1 lead.

England did not manage to score more goals and as a result, they had to suffer a loss.

Before this match, England had a perfect record in their group.

On the other hand, with four wins from their last five qualifiers, the Czech Republic is in good shape to finish in the top two.

Harry Kane said that England's defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic on Saturday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers is a wakeup call for the team. Kane took to Twitter and wrote, "Last night is a wake-up call for us.

Harry Kane said that England's defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic on Saturday in the Euro 2020 qualifiers is a wakeup call for the team. Kane took to Twitter and wrote, "Last night is a wake-up call for us. We have to be better and improve. Bulgaria next." Last night is a wake up call for us. We have to be better and improve. Bulgaria next. pic.twitter.com/qGVGnfUD2e — Harry Kane (@HKane) October 12, 2019 × England had not lost either a World Cup or European Championship qualifier since 2009. England was able to register an early goal. Kane converted the penalty in the fifth minute to give the Three Lions a 1-0 lead. The Czech Republic did not have to wait a long time for the equalising goal as Jakub Brabec netted the ball in the 9th minute, bringing the scoreline to 1-1. Both teams kept on making attacking moves in the first half, but they did not manage to register more goals and as a result, at the half-time mark, the scoreline remained 1-1. In the second half, England got a chance in the 57th minute to take the lead but Sterling was denied by Czech Republic's goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik. Zdenek Ondrasek defied the odds and registered a goal for the Czech Republic in the 85th minute to give the side a 2-1 lead. England did not manage to score more goals and as a result, they had to suffer a loss. Before this match, England had a perfect record in their group. On the other hand, with four wins from their last five qualifiers, the Czech Republic is in good shape to finish in the top two.

Harry Kane says England's defeat to Czech Republic is a 'wakeup call'

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said he fully understands manager Mauricio Pochettino's frustration with the team, asserting that they had failed to learn from past mistakes following Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Olympiakos Piraeus.

Last season's runners-up squandered a two-goal advantage in their Group B opener in Athens and a furious Pochettino accused his players of "not respecting the plan".

"You can see why the manager is frustrated. He has been here for five years now and we're still making similar mistakes as we were the first year," Kane, who scored Spurs' opener from the penalty spot, told reporters.

Lucas Moura doubled Tottenham's lead but Olympiakos hit back before halftime through Daniel Podence and equalised thanks to Mathieu Valbuena's penalty in the 54th minute.

"We are not young anymore, we are not inexperienced, we have played in big games for club and country," England international Kane added.

"We have to try to find a way to get around it and improve and get better. That's all we can try to do."

Pochettino, who joined Tottenham in 2014 and had been linked by Spanish media with a switch to Real Madrid last season, said he was concerned by Spurs' wobbly start to the campaign.

"In the beginning of this season we're conceding a lot of chances, lots of goals and we need to change that," Pochettino, who dismissed rumours last month that he could quit, added.

"The only way we can change is being more demanding from ourselves. That is the way we are going to approach the different days and be more consistent.

"Training needs to be harder. Psychologically harder."

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said he fully understands manager Mauricio Pochettino's frustration with the team, asserting that they had failed to learn from past mistakes following Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Olympiakos Piraeus.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said he fully understands manager Mauricio Pochettino's frustration with the team, asserting that they had failed to learn from past mistakes following Wednesday's 2-2 Champions League draw at Olympiakos Piraeus. Last season's runners-up squandered a two-goal advantage in their Group B opener in Athens and a furious Pochettino accused his players of "not respecting the plan". "You can see why the manager is frustrated. He has been here for five years now and we're still making similar mistakes as we were the first year," Kane, who scored Spurs' opener from the penalty spot, told reporters. Lucas Moura doubled Tottenham's lead but Olympiakos hit back before halftime through Daniel Podence and equalised thanks to Mathieu Valbuena's penalty in the 54th minute. "We are not young anymore, we are not inexperienced, we have played in big games for club and country," England international Kane added. "We have to try to find a way to get around it and improve and get better. That's all we can try to do." Pochettino, who joined Tottenham in 2014 and had been linked by Spanish media with a switch to Real Madrid last season, said he was concerned by Spurs' wobbly start to the campaign. "In the beginning of this season we're conceding a lot of chances, lots of goals and we need to change that," Pochettino, who dismissed rumours last month that he could quit, added. "The only way we can change is being more demanding from ourselves. That is the way we are going to approach the different days and be more consistent. "Training needs to be harder. Psychologically harder."

Tottenham making same old mistakes, says Harry Kane

Harry Kane kept England on course to qualify for Euro 2020 as the skipper's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria on Saturday.

Kane punished woeful Bulgaria defending to open the scoring in the first half at Wembley.

The Tottenham striker netted again with a penalty soon after the interval before Raheem Sterling struck to put England in complete control.

Kane claimed his second international hat-trick with another penalty, taking him to 25 goals in 40 England appearances.

Gareth Southgate's side sit top of Group A with three successive victories and 14 goals to their credit.

Their next qualifier is against second placed Kosovo at Southampton on Tuesday.

Such is the weakness of England's group that the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists already look odds-on to qualify for Euro 2020.

The only issue between now and the start of the tournament next June is how Southgate configures his squad to ensure they start as one of the main contenders for the trophy.

Southgate earned criticism on social media for not giving starts to in-form youngsters Jadon Sancho and Mason Mount against Bulgaria.

But, before kick-off, he defended his decision to stick with his established players, saying: "We have to win matches. It's not a case of giving people caps.&nbsp;We're trying to qualify for a European Championship."

Kieran Trippier was a beneficiary of Southgate's faith in his proven troops, the Atletico Madrid right-back&nbsp;earning a recall ahead of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Trippier was caught out of position early on when Marcelinho got in behind him and picked out Wanderson for a shot that was too close to England keeper Jordan Pickford.

That was the low point of a subdued start from England, but Bulgaria, adopting a defensive 4-5-1 formation, were so cautious that they allowed Southgate's men to gradually find their rhythm.

Kane had the ball in the net from Sterling's cross in the 19th minute, but the captain's close-range effort was correctly ruled out for offside.

Farcical defending

Kane didn't have to wait long for his first goal as he capitalised on Bulgaria's farcical defending in the 24th minute.

Recklessly trying to play inside their own penalty area, Bulgaria were caught out as Georgi Sarmov's backpass to Plamen Iliev prompted the keeper to hurriedly poke towards Vasil Bozhikov.

Sterling sensed Bulgaria's panic and nipped in to alertly steal possession before clipping his pass back towards Kane, who slotted into the empty net from close-range.

The inclusion of Everton's Michael Keane alongside Harry Maguire at the heart of England's defence underlined a lack of depth at that position.

Keane has suffered from injury and confidence issues since he left Burnley two years ago, while Maguire had to go off for a few minutes during the warm-up after accidentally clashing heads with team-mate Declan Rice.

Neither looked sharp when Galin Ivanov found space between them to meet Strahil Popov's cross, only for the winger to waste his golden opportunity to equalise by nodding a weak header straight at Pickford.

Bulgaria squandered another chance immediately after half-time when Wanderson was granted time and space for a shot that Pickford repelled at his near post.

England were roused by that escape and killed off the visitors in the 49th minute.

Marcus Rashford's incisive raid carried him into the Bulgaria area, where he was tripped by Nikolay Bodurov, earning a penalty that Kane dispatched with ease.

With Bulgaria by now well out of their depth, England bagged a third goal in the 55th minute as Rashford fed Kane and his cross was bundled in by Sterling on the goal-line.

Sancho and Mount came on in the closing stages, but it was Kane who hogged the spotlight.

He completed his treble in the 73rd minute, drilling in his second penalty after winning the spot-kick himself with a rampaging run that was ended by a foul from Kristian Dimitrov.

Harry Kane kept England on course to qualify for Euro 2020 as the skipper's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria on Saturday. Kane punished woeful Bulgaria defending to open the scoring in the first half at Wembley.

Harry Kane kept England on course to qualify for Euro 2020 as the skipper's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria on Saturday. Kane punished woeful Bulgaria defending to open the scoring in the first half at Wembley. The Tottenham striker netted again with a penalty soon after the interval before Raheem Sterling struck to put England in complete control. Kane claimed his second international hat-trick with another penalty, taking him to 25 goals in 40 England appearances. Gareth Southgate's side sit top of Group A with three successive victories and 14 goals to their credit. Their next qualifier is against second placed Kosovo at Southampton on Tuesday. Such is the weakness of England's group that the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists already look odds-on to qualify for Euro 2020. The only issue between now and the start of the tournament next June is how Southgate configures his squad to ensure they start as one of the main contenders for the trophy. Southgate earned criticism on social media for not giving starts to in-form youngsters Jadon Sancho and Mason Mount against Bulgaria. But, before kick-off, he defended his decision to stick with his established players, saying: "We have to win matches. It's not a case of giving people caps. We're trying to qualify for a European Championship." Kieran Trippier was a beneficiary of Southgate's faith in his proven troops, the Atletico Madrid right-back earning a recall ahead of Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold. Trippier was caught out of position early on when Marcelinho got in behind him and picked out Wanderson for a shot that was too close to England keeper Jordan Pickford. That was the low point of a subdued start from England, but Bulgaria, adopting a defensive 4-5-1 formation, were so cautious that they allowed Southgate's men to gradually find their rhythm. Kane had the ball in the net from Sterling's cross in the 19th minute, but the captain's close-range effort was correctly ruled out for offside. Farcical defending Kane didn't have to wait long for his first goal as he capitalised on Bulgaria's farcical defending in the 24th minute. Recklessly trying to play inside their own penalty area, Bulgaria were caught out as Georgi Sarmov's backpass to Plamen Iliev prompted the keeper to hurriedly poke towards Vasil Bozhikov. Sterling sensed Bulgaria's panic and nipped in to alertly steal possession before clipping his pass back towards Kane, who slotted into the empty net from close-range. The inclusion of Everton's Michael Keane alongside Harry Maguire at the heart of England's defence underlined a lack of depth at that position. Keane has suffered from injury and confidence issues since he left Burnley two years ago, while Maguire had to go off for a few minutes during the warm-up after accidentally clashing heads with team-mate Declan Rice. Neither looked sharp when Galin Ivanov found space between them to meet Strahil Popov's cross, only for the winger to waste his golden opportunity to equalise by nodding a weak header straight at Pickford. Bulgaria squandered another chance immediately after half-time when Wanderson was granted time and space for a shot that Pickford repelled at his near post. England were roused by that escape and killed off the visitors in the 49th minute. Marcus Rashford's incisive raid carried him into the Bulgaria area, where he was tripped by Nikolay Bodurov, earning a penalty that Kane dispatched with ease. With Bulgaria by now well out of their depth, England bagged a third goal in the 55th minute as Rashford fed Kane and his cross was bundled in by Sterling on the goal-line. Sancho and Mount came on in the closing stages, but it was Kane who hogged the spotlight. He completed his treble in the 73rd minute, drilling in his second penalty after winning the spot-kick himself with a rampaging run that was ended by a foul from Kristian Dimitrov.

Harry Kane treble fires England in Bulgaria rout

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scored a stunning goal in the stoppage time to secure a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-strikes-as-tottenham-sink-juventus-in-singapore-237495">3-2 win over Juventus</a> in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday.&nbsp;

During the match, Tottenham opened the goal through&nbsp;Erik Lamela's strike in the 31st minute but Juventus' Gonzalo Higuain levelled the score in the 56th minute.&nbsp;

The Italian giants went ahead after Cristiano Ronaldo netted on the hour mark but Lucas Moura scored the equaliser in the 65th minute.&nbsp;

Kane scored the winner in the 93rd minute lofting a shot from the centre&nbsp;circle that cleared over the head of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, landing it into the net.&nbsp;

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said the goal was "unbelievable". He said, "I think it was a great, great goal, unbelievable goal for Harry (Kane), I think it's good for him, to start the pre-season by scoring."

"To compete in our best way and win is always better than don't win, and of course, I think we are happy with the performance. But the most important is we are happy that the players finished in a good condition to train tomorrow, to train after tomorrow and build step by step our fitness," Pochettino added.&nbsp;

Watch the video:&nbsp;

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Good to be back 😉⚽ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COYS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COYS</a> <a href="https://t.co/0IyYufatit">pic.twitter.com/0IyYufatit</a>
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The International Champions Cup features 12 teams playing friendly matches in venues in North America, Europe and Asia.&nbsp;

Next Tottenham will face&nbsp;Manchester United in Shanghai and Juventus travel to Nanjing, China next to face fellow Serie A side Inter Milan.&nbsp;

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scored a stunning goal in the stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win over Juventus in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane scored a stunning goal in the stoppage time to secure a 3-2 win over Juventus in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday. During the match, Tottenham opened the goal through Erik Lamela's strike in the 31st minute but Juventus' Gonzalo Higuain levelled the score in the 56th minute. The Italian giants went ahead after Cristiano Ronaldo netted on the hour mark but Lucas Moura scored the equaliser in the 65th minute. Kane scored the winner in the 93rd minute lofting a shot from the centre circle that cleared over the head of goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, landing it into the net. Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said the goal was "unbelievable". He said, "I think it was a great, great goal, unbelievable goal for Harry (Kane), I think it's good for him, to start the pre-season by scoring." "To compete in our best way and win is always better than don't win, and of course, I think we are happy with the performance. But the most important is we are happy that the players finished in a good condition to train tomorrow, to train after tomorrow and build step by step our fitness," Pochettino added. Watch the video: Good to be back 😉⚽ #COYS pic.twitter.com/0IyYufatit — Harry Kane (@HKane) July 21, 2019 × The International Champions Cup features 12 teams playing friendly matches in venues in North America, Europe and Asia. Next Tottenham will face Manchester United in Shanghai and Juventus travel to Nanjing, China next to face fellow Serie A side Inter Milan.

Watch: Harry Kane's 93rd-minute wonder goal against Juventus

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane scored what he called "one of the best goals" of his career to beat Italian champions Juventus 3-2 in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday.

Kane capitalised after teammate Lucas Moura nicked the ball deep into injury time, allowing the striker to thump it from the halfway line high into the steamy night and over the head of Juventus' back-pedalling goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

His goal completed a comeback after Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus 2-1 in front.

"It is probably one of the best goals of my career," Kane said.

"I could see in parts of the game the keeper was off the line. I thought if I get a chance to shoot, I'll shoot and thankfully it went in."

Spurs midfielder Erik Lamela scored the only goal of the first half, striking from close range in the 31st minute after Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon palmed a shot from teenage striker Troy Parrott into his path.

In a more lively second half, Juventus substitute Gonzalo Higuain equalised in the 56th minute after some neat interplay on the edge of the box gave him the space to place it low into the right corner.

Then up stepped crowd-favourite Ronaldo.

Defender Mattia De Sciglio cut the ball back to the Portuguese who drilled it across the keeper in his last touch before he was replaced.

But Juventus' lead did not last long. In the 65th minute, Moura got on the end of a pinpoint pass from Tanguy Ndombele, the French midfielder who joined Spurs for a club record fee earlier this month.

In the closing stages, Higuain had a decent chance to break the deadlock. But it was Kane's wonder-goal - which came after Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot lost the ball - which sealed the win in the dying seconds.

"It was a great goal. Unbelievable from Harry. It is good for him to set off pre-season with scoring," said Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The International Champions Cup features 12 teams playing friendly matches in venues in North America, Europe and Asia.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane scored what he called "one of the best goals" of his career to beat Italian champions Juventus 3-2 in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane scored what he called "one of the best goals" of his career to beat Italian champions Juventus 3-2 in an enthralling International Champions Cup contest in Singapore on Sunday. Kane capitalised after teammate Lucas Moura nicked the ball deep into injury time, allowing the striker to thump it from the halfway line high into the steamy night and over the head of Juventus' back-pedalling goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. His goal completed a comeback after Cristiano Ronaldo put Juventus 2-1 in front. "It is probably one of the best goals of my career," Kane said. "I could see in parts of the game the keeper was off the line. I thought if I get a chance to shoot, I'll shoot and thankfully it went in." Spurs midfielder Erik Lamela scored the only goal of the first half, striking from close range in the 31st minute after Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon palmed a shot from teenage striker Troy Parrott into his path. In a more lively second half, Juventus substitute Gonzalo Higuain equalised in the 56th minute after some neat interplay on the edge of the box gave him the space to place it low into the right corner. Then up stepped crowd-favourite Ronaldo. Defender Mattia De Sciglio cut the ball back to the Portuguese who drilled it across the keeper in his last touch before he was replaced. But Juventus' lead did not last long. In the 65th minute, Moura got on the end of a pinpoint pass from Tanguy Ndombele, the French midfielder who joined Spurs for a club record fee earlier this month. In the closing stages, Higuain had a decent chance to break the deadlock. But it was Kane's wonder-goal - which came after Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot lost the ball - which sealed the win in the dying seconds. "It was a great goal. Unbelievable from Harry. It is good for him to set off pre-season with scoring," said Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino. The International Champions Cup features 12 teams playing friendly matches in venues in North America, Europe and Asia.

Harry Kane strikes as Tottenham sink Juventus in Singapore

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said that the team is motivated ahead of the new Premier League season, which is scheduled to begin from&nbsp;August 10. Spurs will kick-off the season with hosting Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via the playoffs after a three-season absence.

Ahead of the International Champions Cup in Singapore, Harry Kane and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino addressed media to share their thoughts on the upcoming season.&nbsp;

"We know it was there for the taking and it's something we have to deal with over the summer," Kane said of the Champions League final defeat.&nbsp;"With everything last season I think we did extremely well. I haven't watched the game again."

"When we first, look back five years ago the aim was to be playing Champions League football in a new stadium and, of course, we went a lot quicker than people expected," said English striker Harry Kane.

"Everything's in place to now build and progress so, like I said earlier, it's down to us, there's no excuses," Kane added. "For me, I'm just excited to, yeah, get going again and try and have a great season."

Tottenham&nbsp;manager Pochettino said that last month's Champions League final defeat has made him more determined to succeed at the club.&nbsp;

Pochettino said he was keen to continue with the five-year "project" that has seen&nbsp;Tottenham&nbsp;establish themselves in the Premier League top four and finally move into their new stadium after a series of delays.&nbsp;

"After the final the feeling wasn't great, to finish like this. I am not a person who wants to avoid the problem. I love a big challenge," the 47-year-old Argentine told reporters as he looked back at the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in Madrid.

Pochettino also said&nbsp;that Spurs have set a massive example for all the clubs. "I think Tottenham, in the last few years, is a massive example for all the clubs."

"It's going to be another massive challenge for us next season, but, we are brave, I think we have the motivation and the, of course we are going to try to fight and have a very good season," the manager&nbsp;added.

Tottenham will face Juventus on Sunday (21st July) in a pre-season friendly.&nbsp;

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said that the team is motivated ahead of the new Premier League season, which is scheduled to begin from August 10. Spurs will kick-off the season with hosting Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via the playoffs after a three-season absence.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane said that the team is motivated ahead of the new Premier League season, which is scheduled to begin from August 10. Spurs will kick-off the season with hosting Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via the playoffs after a three-season absence. Ahead of the International Champions Cup in Singapore, Harry Kane and Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino addressed media to share their thoughts on the upcoming season. "We know it was there for the taking and it's something we have to deal with over the summer," Kane said of the Champions League final defeat. "With everything last season I think we did extremely well. I haven't watched the game again." "When we first, look back five years ago the aim was to be playing Champions League football in a new stadium and, of course, we went a lot quicker than people expected," said English striker Harry Kane. "Everything's in place to now build and progress so, like I said earlier, it's down to us, there's no excuses," Kane added. "For me, I'm just excited to, yeah, get going again and try and have a great season." Tottenham manager Pochettino said that last month's Champions League final defeat has made him more determined to succeed at the club. Pochettino said he was keen to continue with the five-year "project" that has seen Tottenham establish themselves in the Premier League top four and finally move into their new stadium after a series of delays. "After the final the feeling wasn't great, to finish like this. I am not a person who wants to avoid the problem. I love a big challenge," the 47-year-old Argentine told reporters as he looked back at the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in Madrid. Pochettino also said that Spurs have set a massive example for all the clubs. "I think Tottenham, in the last few years, is a massive example for all the clubs." "It's going to be another massive challenge for us next season, but, we are brave, I think we have the motivation and the, of course we are going to try to fight and have a very good season," the manager added. Tottenham will face Juventus on Sunday (21st July) in a pre-season friendly.

'More excited about season ahead than looking in past,' says Harry Kane

England forward<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-citys-raheem-sterling-wants-to-meet-officials-at-fa-and-premier-league-about-racism-220790&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjW24DSptTiAhUGfisKHcEXDDYQFjACegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0gjAUAnBwpl-s2PDhE3Rxu"> Raheem Sterling</a> said he was left "fuming" after his PR company issued a release suggesting that he would be captaining England in Thursday's Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands.

The press release was issued on Tuesday by Colossal Sports Management, Sterling's management company, saying he would be wearing the skipper's armband in what will be his 50th appearance.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is England's usual captain and would be expected to assume the role should he start against the Netherlands.

The statement was therefore surprising given that England manager Gareth Southgate rarely indicates his team selection choices ahead of competitive games and it would be normal practice for him or the Football Association to announce any captaincy decision.

At a scheduled news conference on Wednesday, Southgate said: "I don't want to discuss the captaincy. Harry Kane is our captain and if he doesn't play I have a decision to make. But if I tell you Harry Kane isn't playing I'm doing half of (Dutch manager) Ronald (Koeman's) job for him."

Questioned about the situation, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/raheem-sterling-wins-football-writers-award-214414&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjW24DSptTiAhUGfisKHcEXDDYQFjAEegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw21kIjcgfteAh3wRJrv_uH1">Sterling </a>said,&nbsp;" I woke up this morning fuming. I haven't had a conversation with Gareth or anyone in my agency. It was a strange one for me to wake up and see that."

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-could-recover-in-time-for-nations-league-finals-210030&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiIysyBp9TiAhXUiHAKHUqDD9YQFjAGegQIAxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1klU87DijL1w2vW5VVNWbi">Kane </a>and Liverpool midfielder <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/steven-gerrard-hails-liverpool-captain-jordan-henderson-for-rising-above-criticism-to-win-champions-league-224243&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi8kPCWp9TiAhVFv48KHcm1AbUQFjAAegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw28WKkWGhN_wDg9yCRh3zM0">Jordan Henderson</a> would be ahead of Sterling for the skipper's role, but they were among those involved in the Champions League final in Madrid on Saturday.

"I have to assess all the players who were involved in the Champions League final in Madrid. It was a unique game in unique circumstances. The players only arrived on Tuesday and there has been some tactical work going on. They are all available though," he said.

"It's been a different preparation. But there are always complications. We have shown incredible adaptability as a team over the last two years," added Southgate.

Kane is fit to play after returning to action following a seven-week ankle injury layoff but he looked short of match sharpness in Madrid and it would not be a surprise if he started on the bench.

"He finished the game the other day and he has no issues. I sit with everybody that walks through the door and you are assessing where they are physically and psychologically," Southgate said.

"The <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/photos/major-takeaways-from-ucl-final-between-liverpool-and-tottenham-hotspur-223624&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjjjNikp9TiAhUIp48KHcZtCzYQFjAAegQIBRAB&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qpSWknNUMiiVQTYgVzUIa">Liverpool </a>players have had one of the biggest nights of their lives, and the parade after, so all of those guys have been through a lot," he said.

England forward Raheem Sterling said he was left "fuming" after his PR company issued a release suggesting that he would be captaining England in Thursday's Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands.

England forward Raheem Sterling said he was left "fuming" after his PR company issued a release suggesting that he would be captaining England in Thursday's Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands. The press release was issued on Tuesday by Colossal Sports Management, Sterling's management company, saying he would be wearing the skipper's armband in what will be his 50th appearance. Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is England's usual captain and would be expected to assume the role should he start against the Netherlands. The statement was therefore surprising given that England manager Gareth Southgate rarely indicates his team selection choices ahead of competitive games and it would be normal practice for him or the Football Association to announce any captaincy decision. At a scheduled news conference on Wednesday, Southgate said: "I don't want to discuss the captaincy. Harry Kane is our captain and if he doesn't play I have a decision to make. But if I tell you Harry Kane isn't playing I'm doing half of (Dutch manager) Ronald (Koeman's) job for him." Questioned about the situation, Sterling said, " I woke up this morning fuming. I haven't had a conversation with Gareth or anyone in my agency. It was a strange one for me to wake up and see that." Kane and Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson would be ahead of Sterling for the skipper's role, but they were among those involved in the Champions League final in Madrid on Saturday. "I have to assess all the players who were involved in the Champions League final in Madrid. It was a unique game in unique circumstances. The players only arrived on Tuesday and there has been some tactical work going on. They are all available though," he said. "It's been a different preparation. But there are always complications. We have shown incredible adaptability as a team over the last two years," added Southgate. Kane is fit to play after returning to action following a seven-week ankle injury layoff but he looked short of match sharpness in Madrid and it would not be a surprise if he started on the bench. "He finished the game the other day and he has no issues. I sit with everybody that walks through the door and you are assessing where they are physically and psychologically," Southgate said. "The Liverpool players have had one of the biggest nights of their lives, and the parade after, so all of those guys have been through a lot," he said.

Raheem Sterling left 'fuming' after England's captaincy mix-up

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/mauricio-pochettino-optimistic-harry-kane-will-play-in-champions-league-final-221259&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwie95CQyr3iAhWK63MBHQDTB6wQFjAEegQIARAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1jvXXSaKx9qHNdecAEpCzT">Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane</a> says he is feeling strong in his bid to recover from injury for the Champions League final against Liverpool, but manager Mauricio Pochettino stressed Spurs' fortunes would not rest on whether or not he plays.

Kane, Spurs' top Premier League scorer for the last five years, has been out of action since tearing ankle ligaments in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City but has returned to full training with his teammates.

He looked free of injury worries in Monday's training session which was open to the media ahead of Saturday's match at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spurs' first appearance in a Champions League final.

"I'm in a good place, the ankle feels strong. It's down to the manager if I play or not, but so far, so good," Kane told reporters.

"<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/sports/tottenhams-harry-kane-has-significant-ankle-ligament-damage-209692&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwie95CQyr3iAhWK63MBHQDTB6wQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw14-_j2Xu_fVepvK3x3sXU0">When the injury happened</a>, the only game available was this one because it was the only one in the timeframe. It worked well in terms of the rehab; there was no time to rush back because there were no games," Kane said.

Pochettino was also encouraged by Kane's chances of making the match.

"In the last week, he started to be involved with the group. I'm very positive about his situation, we have one week ahead to evaluate and see how he's progressing," Pochettino said.

"It's so important that he feels well and we see what happens. I can't say he's 100 per cent, whether he will be available or on the bench or out, but we are so happy and positive about his progression,"&nbsp;Pochettino said.

Pochettino added that Tottenham's other injured players - Harry Winks, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez - were also on track to be fit to make the squad for the game.

He said Tottenham's momentous victories over Manchester City and Ajax Amsterdam as well as finishing fourth in the Premier League while Kane was out showed that the team was about more than one player.

"Football is about team spirit, the collective and faith. Look how we got to the final. When Harry got injured it was in the quarter-finals and look what happened - we had one of the most fantastic seasons," he said.

"That doesn't mean he's not one of the best players in the team. For me, he's one of the best strikers in the world, in the top three. We need to beat Liverpool, and if he's available all the better, but it's not him and the rest of the team,'' Pochettino said.

"He's one of our stars and if he's ready I'll be the first one to be happy. But we always prioritise the team and don't worry, we'll take the best decision to try and win,"&nbsp;Pochettino added.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane says he is feeling strong in his bid to recover from injury for the Champions League final against Liverpool, but manager Mauricio Pochettino stressed Spurs' fortunes would not rest on whether or not he plays.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane says he is feeling strong in his bid to recover from injury for the Champions League final against Liverpool, but manager Mauricio Pochettino stressed Spurs' fortunes would not rest on whether or not he plays. Kane, Spurs' top Premier League scorer for the last five years, has been out of action since tearing ankle ligaments in the quarter-final first leg against Manchester City but has returned to full training with his teammates. He looked free of injury worries in Monday's training session which was open to the media ahead of Saturday's match at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spurs' first appearance in a Champions League final. "I'm in a good place, the ankle feels strong. It's down to the manager if I play or not, but so far, so good," Kane told reporters. "When the injury happened, the only game available was this one because it was the only one in the timeframe. It worked well in terms of the rehab; there was no time to rush back because there were no games," Kane said. Pochettino was also encouraged by Kane's chances of making the match. "In the last week, he started to be involved with the group. I'm very positive about his situation, we have one week ahead to evaluate and see how he's progressing," Pochettino said. "It's so important that he feels well and we see what happens. I can't say he's 100 per cent, whether he will be available or on the bench or out, but we are so happy and positive about his progression," Pochettino said. Pochettino added that Tottenham's other injured players - Harry Winks, Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez - were also on track to be fit to make the squad for the game. He said Tottenham's momentous victories over Manchester City and Ajax Amsterdam as well as finishing fourth in the Premier League while Kane was out showed that the team was about more than one player. "Football is about team spirit, the collective and faith. Look how we got to the final. When Harry got injured it was in the quarter-finals and look what happened - we had one of the most fantastic seasons," he said. "That doesn't mean he's not one of the best players in the team. For me, he's one of the best strikers in the world, in the top three. We need to beat Liverpool, and if he's available all the better, but it's not him and the rest of the team,'' Pochettino said. "He's one of our stars and if he's ready I'll be the first one to be happy. But we always prioritise the team and don't worry, we'll take the best decision to try and win," Pochettino added.

Tottenham's Harry Kane 'feeling strong' in bid to be fit for Champions League final

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.&nbsp;

The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development.&nbsp;

But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study.&nbsp;

As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not.&nbsp;

The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years.&nbsp;

After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players.&nbsp;

The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease.

But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers.

NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players.

Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players.

The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States.

"Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.&nbsp;

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday. The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development. But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study. As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not. The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years. After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players. The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease. But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers. NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players. Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players. The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States. "Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.

Football players at greater risk of premature death than baseball players: Study

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has entered the final stages of recovery from an ankle injury and manager Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic the striker will be fit enough to play in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/losing-champions-league-final-would-be-painful-says-tottenhams-son-heung-min-218869">Champions League final</a> in Madrid.

Kane sustained what appeared to be a season-ending ligament injury against Manchester City in the quarter-finals but Pochettino believes he now has a good chance of at least making the bench against Liverpool on June 1.

"(Kane) is training and has entered the final stage of his recovery," the Argentine told reporters in Spain on Thursday.

"We're hoping he'll be able to give us a hand, either from the start, from the bench, or if not, then by giving us moral support in the dressing room. But we're optimistic he'll be able to help us on the pitch."

Pochettino said his team had defied expectations by reaching the final, which he expects to be an emotionally charged affair.

"Everyone's expecting a tactical battle, but I think the emotional side will be decisive -- that will dictate how the game develops," he added.

"(Liverpool) have invested in their squad to be able to compete for the Champions League but we are there too and on our own merit. Nobody expected Tottenham to be in the final... We have the chance to make history.

"You don't play finals, you win them and we're preparing to win it."

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has entered the final stages of recovery from an ankle injury and manager Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic the striker will be fit enough to play in the Champions League final in Madrid.

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane has entered the final stages of recovery from an ankle injury and manager Mauricio Pochettino is optimistic the striker will be fit enough to play in the Champions League final in Madrid. Kane sustained what appeared to be a season-ending ligament injury against Manchester City in the quarter-finals but Pochettino believes he now has a good chance of at least making the bench against Liverpool on June 1. "(Kane) is training and has entered the final stage of his recovery," the Argentine told reporters in Spain on Thursday. "We're hoping he'll be able to give us a hand, either from the start, from the bench, or if not, then by giving us moral support in the dressing room. But we're optimistic he'll be able to help us on the pitch." Pochettino said his team had defied expectations by reaching the final, which he expects to be an emotionally charged affair. "Everyone's expecting a tactical battle, but I think the emotional side will be decisive -- that will dictate how the game develops," he added. "(Liverpool) have invested in their squad to be able to compete for the Champions League but we are there too and on our own merit. Nobody expected Tottenham to be in the final... We have the chance to make history. "You don't play finals, you win them and we're preparing to win it."

Mauricio Pochettino optimistic Harry Kane will play in Champions League final

From Kane's halftime pep-talk to Moura's miracle, major takeaways form Spurs win over Ajax in semi-final

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane could be back from injury in time for the Nations League finals in June and will be doing everything possible to recover from his ankle problem, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday.

The 25-year-old suffered what the north London club has described as significant ankle ligament damage in a challenge with Manchester City's Fabian Delph in their Champions League quarter-final clash at Tottenham's new stadium on Tuesday.

The club has not put a timeframe on Kane's recovery but Pochettino said it would be difficult for him to recover in time to play any part in the rest of the Premier League campaign which finishes in just four weeks' time on May 12.

However, asked if Kane would be ready for the Nations League the Argentine said: "I hope yes. You know his sole focus now and he's going to be so positive. First to help Tottenham and then if it's not possible to help the national team."

England face the Netherlands in their Nations League semi-final on June 6, the day after hosts Portugal play Switzerland, with the final set for June 9 in Porto. England will aim to lift their first major trophy since their 1966 World Cup triumph.

Kane was sidelined for nearly two months in January when he damaged ligaments in the same left ankle in a Premier League defeat by Manchester United at Wembley and was out for a month last season with a similar injury to his right ankle.

Pochettino does not believe his talisman has a weakness in his ankles, though, and puts the injuries down to bad luck.

"For sure it can be an issue because when you suffer once, twice or a third time it's normal you are always going to think that. I don't believe it's going to be a big problem. Hopefully, his experience is going to be different in the future," he said.

Kane suffered his latest injury making a strong tackle on Delph near the halfway line but Pochettino does not believe the striker needs to make changes to the way he plays the game.

"He's Harry Kane because he has played like this in the past. Now because of bad luck, it has become an issue but he is how he is. I don't believe it's going to be a chronic problem."

Fourth-placed Tottenham have six league games remaining and are a point ahead of rivals Arsenal as they battle for a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane could be back from injury in time for the Nations League finals in June and will be doing everything possible to recover from his ankle problem, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday.

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane could be back from injury in time for the Nations League finals in June and will be doing everything possible to recover from his ankle problem, manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Friday. The 25-year-old suffered what the north London club has described as significant ankle ligament damage in a challenge with Manchester City's Fabian Delph in their Champions League quarter-final clash at Tottenham's new stadium on Tuesday. The club has not put a timeframe on Kane's recovery but Pochettino said it would be difficult for him to recover in time to play any part in the rest of the Premier League campaign which finishes in just four weeks' time on May 12. However, asked if Kane would be ready for the Nations League the Argentine said: "I hope yes. You know his sole focus now and he's going to be so positive. First to help Tottenham and then if it's not possible to help the national team." England face the Netherlands in their Nations League semi-final on June 6, the day after hosts Portugal play Switzerland, with the final set for June 9 in Porto. England will aim to lift their first major trophy since their 1966 World Cup triumph. Kane was sidelined for nearly two months in January when he damaged ligaments in the same left ankle in a Premier League defeat by Manchester United at Wembley and was out for a month last season with a similar injury to his right ankle. Pochettino does not believe his talisman has a weakness in his ankles, though, and puts the injuries down to bad luck. "For sure it can be an issue because when you suffer once, twice or a third time it's normal you are always going to think that. I don't believe it's going to be a big problem. Hopefully, his experience is going to be different in the future," he said. Kane suffered his latest injury making a strong tackle on Delph near the halfway line but Pochettino does not believe the striker needs to make changes to the way he plays the game. "He's Harry Kane because he has played like this in the past. Now because of bad luck, it has become an issue but he is how he is. I don't believe it's going to be a chronic problem." Fourth-placed Tottenham have six league games remaining and are a point ahead of rivals Arsenal as they battle for a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League.

Harry Kane could recover in time for Nations League finals

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-kane-maybe-out-for-rest-of-the-season-mauricio-pochettino-209167">suffered serious ankle ligament damage</a> in Tuesday's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-son-heung-mins-late-winner-gives-tottenham-edge-over-manchester-city-209155">1-0 Champions League victor</a>y over Manchester City, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

Kane rolled his left ankle in the second half of the quarter-final first leg after a hefty tackle on City defender Fabian Delph and left the field immediately.

Spurs gave no timeframe for when Kane might be fit again.

"Following assessment over the past two days, we can confirm that Harry Kane has sustained a significant lateral ligament injury to his left ankle following a challenge in our Champions League quarter-final, first leg win against Manchester City," Spurs said on their website.

"Investigations are ongoing and he will continue to be assessed by our medical staff over the coming week."

The England captain, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season, left the club's new stadium on crutches with a protective boot on his foot.

On Wednesday, 25-year-old Kane had tweeted, "Gutted to go off injured but every setback is a chance to come back stronger than ever. Big finish from the boys to go on and win!"

Spurs also said England midfielder Dele Alli had fractured his left hand in Tuesday's game and was being assessed to see if he can play against relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Fourth-placed Tottenham are battling for a top-four finish to claim a Champions League spot for next season. They trail third-placed Chelsea by two points, with a game in hand, and lead fellow London rivals Arsenal by one point.

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane suffered serious ankle ligament damage in Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City, the Premier League club said on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur's England striker Harry Kane suffered serious ankle ligament damage in Tuesday's 1-0 Champions League victory over Manchester City, the Premier League club said on Thursday. Kane rolled his left ankle in the second half of the quarter-final first leg after a hefty tackle on City defender Fabian Delph and left the field immediately. Spurs gave no timeframe for when Kane might be fit again. "Following assessment over the past two days, we can confirm that Harry Kane has sustained a significant lateral ligament injury to his left ankle following a challenge in our Champions League quarter-final, first leg win against Manchester City," Spurs said on their website. "Investigations are ongoing and he will continue to be assessed by our medical staff over the coming week." The England captain, who has scored 24 goals in all competitions this season, left the club's new stadium on crutches with a protective boot on his foot. On Wednesday, 25-year-old Kane had tweeted, "Gutted to go off injured but every setback is a chance to come back stronger than ever. Big finish from the boys to go on and win!" Spurs also said England midfielder Dele Alli had fractured his left hand in Tuesday's game and was being assessed to see if he can play against relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday. Fourth-placed Tottenham are battling for a top-four finish to claim a Champions League spot for next season. They trail third-placed Chelsea by two points, with a game in hand, and lead fellow London rivals Arsenal by one point.

Tottenham's Harry Kane has 'significant' ankle ligament damage

Tottenham Hotspur's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-son-heung-mins-late-winner-gives-tottenham-edge-over-manchester-city-209155">1-0 home win over Manchester City</a> in Champions League quarter-final first leg has been overshadowed by the Harry Kane's injury.&nbsp;

After a tackle by City's defender Fabian Delph in the second half, the Tottenham striker rolled his left ankle and limped off the pitch.&nbsp;

However, the magnitude of the injury will be clear after tests but it can be considered as a potentially season-ending injury.&nbsp;

Still, the injury leaves a major doubt over Kane's availability for next week's second leg in Manchester.&nbsp;

Kane has scored 24 goals this season and has already had a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an injury to the same ankle in January when he damaged ligaments.&nbsp;

"We are very sad and disappointed. We are going to miss him, maybe for the rest of the season, and we are worried about that. He doesn't have much time to recover," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters.

"We'll see in the next few days. We can only look forward and hope it's not a big issue and that he can recover as soon as possible, but it doesn't look good."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
"It looks like the same ankle and a similar injury." 
 
"We're very sad. We're maybe going to miss him for the rest of the season." 😔 
 
Mauricio Pochettino speaks to <a href="https://twitter.com/DesKellyBTS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DesKellyBTS</a> about the extent of Harry Kane's injury... <a href="https://t.co/8Nee4ElMsO">pic.twitter.com/8Nee4ElMsO</a>
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1115731495145091074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Pochettino exchanged angry words with Delph after the incident, in which the City player appeared to stand on Kane's ankle as the pair tussled for the ball.&nbsp;

Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 home win over Manchester City in Champions League quarter-final first leg has been overshadowed by the Harry Kane's injury. After a tackle by City's defender Fabian Delph in the second half, the Tottenham striker rolled his left ankle and limped off the pitch.

Tottenham Hotspur's 1-0 home win over Manchester City in Champions League quarter-final first leg has been overshadowed by the Harry Kane's injury. After a tackle by City's defender Fabian Delph in the second half, the Tottenham striker rolled his left ankle and limped off the pitch. However, the magnitude of the injury will be clear after tests but it can be considered as a potentially season-ending injury. Still, the injury leaves a major doubt over Kane's availability for next week's second leg in Manchester. Kane has scored 24 goals this season and has already had a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an injury to the same ankle in January when he damaged ligaments. "We are very sad and disappointed. We are going to miss him, maybe for the rest of the season, and we are worried about that. He doesn't have much time to recover," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. "We'll see in the next few days. We can only look forward and hope it's not a big issue and that he can recover as soon as possible, but it doesn't look good." "It looks like the same ankle and a similar injury." "We're very sad. We're maybe going to miss him for the rest of the season." 😔 Mauricio Pochettino speaks to @DesKellyBTS about the extent of Harry Kane's injury... pic.twitter.com/8Nee4ElMsO — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 9, 2019 × Pochettino exchanged angry words with Delph after the incident, in which the City player appeared to stand on Kane's ankle as the pair tussled for the ball.

Harry Kane maybe out for rest of the season: Mauricio Pochettino

England captain Harry Kane has his heart set on ending his playing career in the United States kicking field goals for a team in the National Football League (NFL).

Kane, the top scorer at last year's FIFA World Cup, has long been an admirer of American football and believes successfully switching sports late in his career will help him go down in history as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.

The path from European football to the United States is a well-travelled one, with the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard all ending up in America's top soccer league (MLS), but Kane wants to blaze his own trail.

"(The desire to play in the NFL) is real," the Tottenham Hotspur striker told ESPN in an interview. "(It's) something that in 10 or 12 years I definitely want to try.

"If you play in the Premier League and the World Cup and you then play in the NFL, would you then be considered one of the greatest sportsmen ever?

"It goes back to that drive to be the best. Even if I download a game on my phone, can I be the best in the world?"

Kane is a fan of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was at the Super Bowl this year, watching from the stands as the 41-year-old won his sixth title.

"We've had a similar path being doubted when we were younger. Maybe not being the best athletes as kids," Kane added. "Not many people thought he'd become that good or even play in the NFL and he went on to become the best ever.

"At the time, it gave me a real boost to say, look, anything is possible. If you have that self-belief and that drive and that hunger, you can do it."

England captain Harry Kane has his heart set on ending his playing career in the United States kicking field goals for a team in the National Football League (NFL).

England captain Harry Kane has his heart set on ending his playing career in the United States kicking field goals for a team in the National Football League (NFL). Kane, the top scorer at last year's FIFA World Cup, has long been an admirer of American football and believes successfully switching sports late in his career will help him go down in history as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. The path from European football to the United States is a well-travelled one, with the likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard all ending up in America's top soccer league (MLS), but Kane wants to blaze his own trail. "(The desire to play in the NFL) is real," the Tottenham Hotspur striker told ESPN in an interview. "(It's) something that in 10 or 12 years I definitely want to try. "If you play in the Premier League and the World Cup and you then play in the NFL, would you then be considered one of the greatest sportsmen ever? "It goes back to that drive to be the best. Even if I download a game on my phone, can I be the best in the world?" Kane is a fan of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and was at the Super Bowl this year, watching from the stands as the 41-year-old won his sixth title. "We've had a similar path being doubted when we were younger. Maybe not being the best athletes as kids," Kane added. "Not many people thought he'd become that good or even play in the NFL and he went on to become the best ever. "At the time, it gave me a real boost to say, look, anything is possible. If you have that self-belief and that drive and that hunger, you can do it."

England captain Harry Kane wants to end career as NFL kicker

If England win the Nations League this year it will be a greater achievement than reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia, captain Harry Kane said on Tuesday.

England meet the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-finals on June 6 for the right to face either European champions Portugal or Switzerland in the final three days later in Porto.

"To have a chance to win a trophy in an England shirt does not happen very often," the striker told reporters. "If we win that trophy, in my eyes, it's a better year than 2018."

Kane is preparing for England's opening Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday and Montenegro on Monday.

England topped a Nations League qualifying group that included 2010 world champions Spain and 2018 runners-up Croatia.

Last year they reached the World Cup semis for the first time since 1990 before losing 2-1 to Croatia after extra time.

"Hopefully, we can win some silverware. Of course, 2018 was fantastic but, for me, the main thing is the team and we want to win things. We want to make fans happy and be proud," said Kane, who won the golden boot in Russia as top scorer with six goals.

"People now expect us to do well and before the World Cup there was no expectation, so it's great that we've turned that around," Kane was quoted as saying by the BBC.

"We're the only team from the World Cup semi-finals to have got through their Nations League group, and we had probably one of the hardest groups.

"That was big for us, to prove that it wasn't just a one-off, that this team were really building for something special."

If England win the Nations League this year it will be a greater achievement than reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia, captain Harry Kane said on Tuesday.

If England win the Nations League this year it will be a greater achievement than reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia, captain Harry Kane said on Tuesday. England meet the Netherlands in the Nations League semi-finals on June 6 for the right to face either European champions Portugal or Switzerland in the final three days later in Porto. "To have a chance to win a trophy in an England shirt does not happen very often," the striker told reporters. "If we win that trophy, in my eyes, it's a better year than 2018." Kane is preparing for England's opening Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Czech Republic on Friday and Montenegro on Monday. England topped a Nations League qualifying group that included 2010 world champions Spain and 2018 runners-up Croatia. Last year they reached the World Cup semis for the first time since 1990 before losing 2-1 to Croatia after extra time. "Hopefully, we can win some silverware. Of course, 2018 was fantastic but, for me, the main thing is the team and we want to win things. We want to make fans happy and be proud," said Kane, who won the golden boot in Russia as top scorer with six goals. "People now expect us to do well and before the World Cup there was no expectation, so it's great that we've turned that around," Kane was quoted as saying by the BBC. "We're the only team from the World Cup semi-finals to have got through their Nations League group, and we had probably one of the hardest groups. "That was big for us, to prove that it wasn't just a one-off, that this team were really building for something special."

England winning Nations League bigger achievement than reaching 2018 World Cup semi-finals, says Harry Kane

Tottenham Hotspur beat hosts Borussia Dortmund 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a clinical Harry Kane finish, to stroll into the Champions League quarter-finals for only the second time in their history with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Kane, who missed the first leg through injury, fired in the winner shortly after the restart and against the run of play to silence a fiery home crowd and leave Dortmund needing five goals after having lost 3-0 in London last month.

The England striker became Spurs' all-time leading scorer in Europe with 24 goals.

The Germans, who have seen their seven-point lead in the league evaporate in recent weeks and are also out of the German Cup, have never overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit in the competition.

They dominated in the first half and despite a valiant effort, they were simply unable to score with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris in stellar form.

"Now we can enjoy because it's a big achievement,” Lloris told reporters. "We want to keep on going, we don't want this to end."

For Tottenham, whose only other quarter-final appearance came in the 2010/11 season, it turned out to be an easier task than expected, with the Germans deep in a rut and far from their explosive early-season form.

"We played well in the first half but the only thing we were missing was a goal that could have given that spark we needed," said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc. "After their goal we were done. You cannot hope to score five."

Dortmund had made their intentions clear with a formation that included five attacking players including captain Marco Reus, Paco Alcacer and Mario Goetze for the first time together in a starting lineup.

They had more than 70 percent possession as Spurs pulled back, but after half an hour the best chance fell to the visitors when Son Heung-min, who scored once in the first leg, fired wide after breaking clear with only keeper Roman Buerki to beat.

There were some worrying moments for Spurs late in the first half, but keeper Hugo Lloris made a string of superb saves to deny the hosts.

Dortmund picked up where they left off after the break with Reus, who had scored twice in two previous outings against Spurs, coming close again.

But Kane stunned the hosts when he was given far too much space at the edge of the box and scored with a thumping finish to kill off the tie.

The visitors then had little trouble to manage the pace of the game against the frustrated Germans and book their ticket to the last eight in the competition.

Tottenham Hotspur beat hosts Borussia Dortmund 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a clinical Harry Kane finish, to stroll into the Champions League quarter-finals for only the second time in their history with a 4-0 aggregate victory.

Tottenham Hotspur beat hosts Borussia Dortmund 1-0 on Tuesday thanks to a clinical Harry Kane finish, to stroll into the Champions League quarter-finals for only the second time in their history with a 4-0 aggregate victory. Kane, who missed the first leg through injury, fired in the winner shortly after the restart and against the run of play to silence a fiery home crowd and leave Dortmund needing five goals after having lost 3-0 in London last month. The England striker became Spurs' all-time leading scorer in Europe with 24 goals. The Germans, who have seen their seven-point lead in the league evaporate in recent weeks and are also out of the German Cup, have never overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit in the competition. They dominated in the first half and despite a valiant effort, they were simply unable to score with Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris in stellar form. "Now we can enjoy because it's a big achievement,” Lloris told reporters. "We want to keep on going, we don't want this to end." For Tottenham, whose only other quarter-final appearance came in the 2010/11 season, it turned out to be an easier task than expected, with the Germans deep in a rut and far from their explosive early-season form. "We played well in the first half but the only thing we were missing was a goal that could have given that spark we needed," said Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc. "After their goal we were done. You cannot hope to score five." Dortmund had made their intentions clear with a formation that included five attacking players including captain Marco Reus, Paco Alcacer and Mario Goetze for the first time together in a starting lineup. They had more than 70 percent possession as Spurs pulled back, but after half an hour the best chance fell to the visitors when Son Heung-min, who scored once in the first leg, fired wide after breaking clear with only keeper Roman Buerki to beat. There were some worrying moments for Spurs late in the first half, but keeper Hugo Lloris made a string of superb saves to deny the hosts. Dortmund picked up where they left off after the break with Reus, who had scored twice in two previous outings against Spurs, coming close again. But Kane stunned the hosts when he was given far too much space at the edge of the box and scored with a thumping finish to kill off the tie. The visitors then had little trouble to manage the pace of the game against the frustrated Germans and book their ticket to the last eight in the competition.

Harry Kane scores in Dortmund as Tottenham stroll into last eight

Harry Kane scored on his return from injury for Tottenham but his side fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Burnley, which severely dented their Premier League title hopes on Saturday.

Ashley Barnes' 83rd minute winner for Burnley, after Kane had cancelled out Chris Woods' opener, extended their unbeaten run to eight games and moved them up to 13th place in the league with one of their best results since returning to the top flight.

But for third-placed Spurs, who trail leaders Manchester City and Liverpool by five points, this may prove to be a loss that leaves them with too much ground to make up.

At an unseasonably sun-splashed Turf Moor, Kane returned to the Spurs line-up for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against Manchester United on Jan. 13 with England manager Gareth Southgate watching from the stands.

But he will have left East Lancashire also impressed by Burnley central defensive pair of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee who kept the England captain and the Spurs attack well under control.

Spurs made a slow start to the lunchtime kick-off game and it was not until the 16th minute that they threatened when Kane worked some space for himself, on the edge of the penalty area, but his left-foot effort was comfortably wide of Tom Heaton’s post.

Burnley were harrying and closing down well in midfield, with Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork particularly busy, and Spurs struggled to find their rhythm or any real openings for their captain.

Barnes went close to an opener in the 33rd, Jeff Hendrick pulling the ball back and the Burnley striker’s first time effort flashed just over the bar. The effort would surely have impressed the watching Austrian national team coach Franco Foda, given Barnes’ eligibility for the country through his paternal grandmother.

Burnley’s disciplined defending ensured the teams went in level at the break but four minutes after the resumption, Kane fired another warning, a dangerously dipping and swerving shot from 30 metres out bringing out the best in Heaton.

Burnley took the lead in the 57th minute with a glancing header by Wood, who rose ahead of Juan Foyth to angle in a Dwight McNeil corner.

Spurs believed the corner should not have been awarded but they responded positively.

Eight minutes later Kane, who had looked a little rusty, ran on to a quick throw-in from Danny Rose, got behind Mee and slipped the ball past Heaton.

Burnley were angered that Rose had taken the throw-in several metres ahead of the spot were the ball went out of play but their protests were in vain.

The Clarets, who have been in or around the relegation zone for most of the season, grabbed the winner though when substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson found Barnes at the back post and the striker fired in his fourth goal in as many games.

Members of the Spurs coaching staff furiously protested against the referee after the final whistle.&nbsp;

Harry Kane scored on his return from injury for Tottenham but his side fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Burnley, which severely dented their Premier League title hopes on Saturday.

Harry Kane scored on his return from injury for Tottenham but his side fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Burnley, which severely dented their Premier League title hopes on Saturday. Ashley Barnes' 83rd minute winner for Burnley, after Kane had cancelled out Chris Woods' opener, extended their unbeaten run to eight games and moved them up to 13th place in the league with one of their best results since returning to the top flight. But for third-placed Spurs, who trail leaders Manchester City and Liverpool by five points, this may prove to be a loss that leaves them with too much ground to make up. At an unseasonably sun-splashed Turf Moor, Kane returned to the Spurs line-up for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against Manchester United on Jan. 13 with England manager Gareth Southgate watching from the stands. But he will have left East Lancashire also impressed by Burnley central defensive pair of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee who kept the England captain and the Spurs attack well under control. Spurs made a slow start to the lunchtime kick-off game and it was not until the 16th minute that they threatened when Kane worked some space for himself, on the edge of the penalty area, but his left-foot effort was comfortably wide of Tom Heaton’s post. Burnley were harrying and closing down well in midfield, with Ashley Westwood and Jack Cork particularly busy, and Spurs struggled to find their rhythm or any real openings for their captain. Barnes went close to an opener in the 33rd, Jeff Hendrick pulling the ball back and the Burnley striker’s first time effort flashed just over the bar. The effort would surely have impressed the watching Austrian national team coach Franco Foda, given Barnes’ eligibility for the country through his paternal grandmother. Burnley’s disciplined defending ensured the teams went in level at the break but four minutes after the resumption, Kane fired another warning, a dangerously dipping and swerving shot from 30 metres out bringing out the best in Heaton. Burnley took the lead in the 57th minute with a glancing header by Wood, who rose ahead of Juan Foyth to angle in a Dwight McNeil corner. Spurs believed the corner should not have been awarded but they responded positively. Eight minutes later Kane, who had looked a little rusty, ran on to a quick throw-in from Danny Rose, got behind Mee and slipped the ball past Heaton. Burnley were angered that Rose had taken the throw-in several metres ahead of the spot were the ball went out of play but their protests were in vain. The Clarets, who have been in or around the relegation zone for most of the season, grabbed the winner though when substitute Johann Berg Gudmundsson found Barnes at the back post and the striker fired in his fourth goal in as many games. Members of the Spurs coaching staff furiously protested against the referee after the final whistle.

Harry Kane scores on return but Spurs fall at Burnley

Tottenham Hotspur went out of their second domestic cup competition in four days as first-half goals by Connor Wickham and Andros Townsend sealed a 2-0 FA Cup victory for Crystal Palace in a thrilling fourth-round clash on Sunday.

Tottenham, beaten by Chelsea in a shootout in the League Cup semi-finals on Thursday, had their woes compounded in a dismal opening period when Kieran Trippier shot wide from the penalty spot after Patrick van Aanholt had brought down Juan Foyth.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, already missing striker Harry Kane and midfielder Dele Alli through injury and with South Korean forward Son Heung-min on his way back from the Asian Cup, chose to rest Christian Eriksen among a raft of other changes from last weekend's Premier League win against Fulham.

The hosts took the lead against the run of play in the ninth minute as Wickham, whose Palace career had stalled due to a serious knee injury suffered in 2016, tapped in from close range on his first start for the club in 792 days.

The 25-year-old forward was in the right place at the right time to capitalise after Jeffrey Schlupp glided past Tottenham's defenders only to have his shot from the right parried away by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Palace doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute through Townsend, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, after defender Kyle Walker-Peters had inexplicably handled a high ball to concede the spot kick.

Goalkeeper Julian Speroni, who had kept Palace in the game with a fine double save to deny Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, continued his solid showing in front of goal after the break to help manager Roy Hodgson's team secure a famous victory.

Defeat extends Tottenham's wait for their first silverware under Pochettino and their first trophy since beating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.

Tottenham Hotspur went out of their second domestic cup competition in four days as first-half goals by Connor Wickham and Andros Townsend sealed a 2-0 FA Cup victory for Crystal Palace in a thrilling fourth-round clash on Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur went out of their second domestic cup competition in four days as first-half goals by Connor Wickham and Andros Townsend sealed a 2-0 FA Cup victory for Crystal Palace in a thrilling fourth-round clash on Sunday. Tottenham, beaten by Chelsea in a shootout in the League Cup semi-finals on Thursday, had their woes compounded in a dismal opening period when Kieran Trippier shot wide from the penalty spot after Patrick van Aanholt had brought down Juan Foyth. Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, already missing striker Harry Kane and midfielder Dele Alli through injury and with South Korean forward Son Heung-min on his way back from the Asian Cup, chose to rest Christian Eriksen among a raft of other changes from last weekend's Premier League win against Fulham. The hosts took the lead against the run of play in the ninth minute as Wickham, whose Palace career had stalled due to a serious knee injury suffered in 2016, tapped in from close range on his first start for the club in 792 days. The 25-year-old forward was in the right place at the right time to capitalise after Jeffrey Schlupp glided past Tottenham's defenders only to have his shot from the right parried away by goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga. Palace doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute through Townsend, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, after defender Kyle Walker-Peters had inexplicably handled a high ball to concede the spot kick. Goalkeeper Julian Speroni, who had kept Palace in the game with a fine double save to deny Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, continued his solid showing in front of goal after the break to help manager Roy Hodgson's team secure a famous victory. Defeat extends Tottenham's wait for their first silverware under Pochettino and their first trophy since beating Chelsea in the 2008 League Cup final.

Tottenham knocked out of FA Cup after losing to Crystal Palace

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will be out of action until March after suffering an ankle injury in the weekend's Premier League defeat by Manchester United, the north London club said on Tuesday.

England captain Kane, who is Tottenham's top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions this season, hobbled away from Wembley on Sunday after picking up a knock towards the end of the 1-0 defeat by United.

"Following preliminary assessments, we can confirm that Harry Kane has damaged ligaments in his left ankle," Spurs said in a statement.

"The striker will continue to be monitored by our medical staff as he commences rehabilitation and is expected to return to training in early March."

Kane's absence looks a major blow for Spurs, who are currently third in the league, with their totemic striker now set to miss key derbies in the league as well as big cup ties at home and in Europe.

Kane will be out of the League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next week, which Tottenham are leading 1-0 thanks to his goal at Wembley in the first match.

He is also likely to miss both legs of the Champions League last-16 clash against Borussia Dortmund.

With Son Heung-min jetting off to represent South Korea at the Asian Cup, manager Mauricio Pochettino's goalscoring options will be tested in the coming weeks.

Spurs, who are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, could also be without Kane when they face top-four rivals Chelsea (Feb. 27) and Arsenal (March 2).

It leaves Pochettino with Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente to call upon as replacements up front, as the manager has already confirmed the club are not looking to sign players in the January transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will be out of action until March after suffering an ankle injury in the weekend's Premier League defeat by Manchester United, the north London club said on Tuesday.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane will be out of action until March after suffering an ankle injury in the weekend's Premier League defeat by Manchester United, the north London club said on Tuesday. England captain Kane, who is Tottenham's top scorer with 20 goals in all competitions this season, hobbled away from Wembley on Sunday after picking up a knock towards the end of the 1-0 defeat by United. "Following preliminary assessments, we can confirm that Harry Kane has damaged ligaments in his left ankle," Spurs said in a statement. "The striker will continue to be monitored by our medical staff as he commences rehabilitation and is expected to return to training in early March." Kane's absence looks a major blow for Spurs, who are currently third in the league, with their totemic striker now set to miss key derbies in the league as well as big cup ties at home and in Europe. Kane will be out of the League Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next week, which Tottenham are leading 1-0 thanks to his goal at Wembley in the first match. He is also likely to miss both legs of the Champions League last-16 clash against Borussia Dortmund. With Son Heung-min jetting off to represent South Korea at the Asian Cup, manager Mauricio Pochettino's goalscoring options will be tested in the coming weeks. Spurs, who are nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, could also be without Kane when they face top-four rivals Chelsea (Feb. 27) and Arsenal (March 2). It leaves Pochettino with Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente to call upon as replacements up front, as the manager has already confirmed the club are not looking to sign players in the January transfer window.

Tottenham striker Harry Kane out until March with ankle injury

Mauricio Pochettino challenged his Tottenham squad to fight for silverware on two fronts after seeing his team thrust themselves back into the Premier League title race with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City ahead of a Champions League trip to Barcelona in midweek.

The Tottenham manager saw his side brush the Foxes aside despite Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, two of his most potent attacking players, playing only cameo roles off the bench.

The pair will now be fresh for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League trip to Catalonia with Spurs needing to win at the Camp Nou to guarantee progress to the last 16.

And Pochettino believes all of his players will have a role in the hectic weeks ahead.

"To show the belief you have in the squad is massive," said Pochettino.

"There's no point players playing every three days. It's not healthy, they need to rest and need some time to breathe.

"For some teams it's so difficult to manage. The most important thing is being genuine in the trust you have in the squad.

"We are showing we trust all the players. In this busy period everybody needs to be focused."

Victory in the East Midlands moved Tottenham back into third, just six points off the top of the Premier League, now headed by Liverpool following Manchester City’s first defeat of the season at Chelsea.

By staying in the race despite a host of injury problems and delays over moving into the club's new stadium, Pochettino now believes his players can keep pace with the league leaders.

"The three points are massive to keep our position in the table," he added.

"It's a massive win for us. The reality is we are there, fighting Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Arsenal - that's the reality.

"It was a tough place so I’m very happy with the performance. I am so pleased and it allows us to start thinking about Barcelona."

Son on the rise

In the absence of Kane and Eriksen, Son Heung-min came to the fore by opening the scoring with a left-footed rocket from the edge of the penalty area before crossing for Dele Alli to head home Spurs' second just before the hour mark.

Son's impact in the first few months of the season was limited by his participation in the Asian Games, but the South Korean has been in fine form in recent weeks after skipping international duty last month.

"The first few months of the season I was a little bit disappointed because he travelled a lot, but after a rest and not going with the national team he was so focused on trying to improve," added Pochettino.

"Today he improved a lot from (the) Chelsea (game) and we’re so happy with his contribution and performance and that is the player we want."

The only blight on a bright night for Pochettino was an injury to right-back Serge Aurier that could rule the Ivorian out for the Barcelona match.

However, Pochettino is confident Spurs can produce on the biggest stage to cap a remarkable comeback after picking up just one point from their opening three Champions League games.

"It will be a massive game. They are qualified for the next stage but in the Champions League nobody gives you a present.

"We need to win and deserve to win and the mentality has got to be 200 percent to try to win because it’s a game we must win.

"We will arrive in the best condition but in front of us will be Barcelona, one of the best teams in Europe."

Mauricio Pochettino challenged his Tottenham squad to fight for silverware on two fronts after seeing his team thrust themselves back into the Premier League title race with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City ahead of a Champions League trip to Barcelona in midweek.

Mauricio Pochettino challenged his Tottenham squad to fight for silverware on two fronts after seeing his team thrust themselves back into the Premier League title race with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City ahead of a Champions League trip to Barcelona in midweek. The Tottenham manager saw his side brush the Foxes aside despite Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen, two of his most potent attacking players, playing only cameo roles off the bench. The pair will now be fresh for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League trip to Catalonia with Spurs needing to win at the Camp Nou to guarantee progress to the last 16. And Pochettino believes all of his players will have a role in the hectic weeks ahead. "To show the belief you have in the squad is massive," said Pochettino. "There's no point players playing every three days. It's not healthy, they need to rest and need some time to breathe. "For some teams it's so difficult to manage. The most important thing is being genuine in the trust you have in the squad. "We are showing we trust all the players. In this busy period everybody needs to be focused." Victory in the East Midlands moved Tottenham back into third, just six points off the top of the Premier League, now headed by Liverpool following Manchester City’s first defeat of the season at Chelsea. By staying in the race despite a host of injury problems and delays over moving into the club's new stadium, Pochettino now believes his players can keep pace with the league leaders. "The three points are massive to keep our position in the table," he added. "It's a massive win for us. The reality is we are there, fighting Liverpool, City, Chelsea and Arsenal - that's the reality. "It was a tough place so I’m very happy with the performance. I am so pleased and it allows us to start thinking about Barcelona." Son on the rise In the absence of Kane and Eriksen, Son Heung-min came to the fore by opening the scoring with a left-footed rocket from the edge of the penalty area before crossing for Dele Alli to head home Spurs' second just before the hour mark. Son's impact in the first few months of the season was limited by his participation in the Asian Games, but the South Korean has been in fine form in recent weeks after skipping international duty last month. "The first few months of the season I was a little bit disappointed because he travelled a lot, but after a rest and not going with the national team he was so focused on trying to improve," added Pochettino. "Today he improved a lot from (the) Chelsea (game) and we’re so happy with his contribution and performance and that is the player we want." The only blight on a bright night for Pochettino was an injury to right-back Serge Aurier that could rule the Ivorian out for the Barcelona match. However, Pochettino is confident Spurs can produce on the biggest stage to cap a remarkable comeback after picking up just one point from their opening three Champions League games. "It will be a massive game. They are qualified for the next stage but in the Champions League nobody gives you a present. "We need to win and deserve to win and the mentality has got to be 200 percent to try to win because it’s a game we must win. "We will arrive in the best condition but in front of us will be Barcelona, one of the best teams in Europe."

Pochettino urges Spurs to fight for title and Champions League

England striker Harry Kane on Sunday led his national team to rally from a one-goal deficit and beat Croatia 2-1, booking a place in the UEFA Nations League finals as the winners of League A Group 4.

The defeat sends 2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatia down to League B, the second tier of the first-ever edition of the new men's tournament while denying Spain a berth in the finals, as La Roja had to settle for the second spot.

England was keen to earn the win and made that clear in the early going, as attacking midfielder Raheem Sterling was set up for a one-on-one situation against Croatia goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, who made the save.

Shortly after, Kalinic nearly cost his team a goal when he tried to prevent the ball from reaching Kane but exposed his goal instead.

Kane's shot at the wide-open goal was cleared by a Croatia player off the goal line, and then Kalinic, who recovered his position, saved his second attempt on the goal.

Midway through the first half, the momentum shifted as Croatia seized control of the ball, trying to threaten Jordan Pickford's goal, but the game remained scoreless at the half.

On Croatia's first real attempt in the second half, substitute forward Josip Brekalo passed the ball to attacking midfielder Andrej Kramaric, who dribbled around several players inside the area before putting the ball home in the 57th minute.

The Three Lions, however, did not give up as they pushed for a comeback and coach Gareth Southgate sent Jadon Sancho and Jesse Lingard onto the field.

Southgate's changes proved to be decisive as Lingard drew his team level after he was set up for the goal by Kane in the 78th minute.&nbsp;

With four minutes to go before second-half stoppage time, Kane struck his first Nations League goal, sealing the win.

England striker Harry Kane on Sunday led his national team to rally from a one-goal deficit and beat Croatia 2-1, booking a place in the UEFA Nations League finals as the winners of League A Group 4.

England striker Harry Kane on Sunday led his national team to rally from a one-goal deficit and beat Croatia 2-1, booking a place in the UEFA Nations League finals as the winners of League A Group 4. The defeat sends 2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatia down to League B, the second tier of the first-ever edition of the new men's tournament while denying Spain a berth in the finals, as La Roja had to settle for the second spot. England was keen to earn the win and made that clear in the early going, as attacking midfielder Raheem Sterling was set up for a one-on-one situation against Croatia goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, who made the save. Shortly after, Kalinic nearly cost his team a goal when he tried to prevent the ball from reaching Kane but exposed his goal instead. Kane's shot at the wide-open goal was cleared by a Croatia player off the goal line, and then Kalinic, who recovered his position, saved his second attempt on the goal. Midway through the first half, the momentum shifted as Croatia seized control of the ball, trying to threaten Jordan Pickford's goal, but the game remained scoreless at the half. On Croatia's first real attempt in the second half, substitute forward Josip Brekalo passed the ball to attacking midfielder Andrej Kramaric, who dribbled around several players inside the area before putting the ball home in the 57th minute. The Three Lions, however, did not give up as they pushed for a comeback and coach Gareth Southgate sent Jadon Sancho and Jesse Lingard onto the field. Southgate's changes proved to be decisive as Lingard drew his team level after he was set up for the goal by Kane in the 78th minute. With four minutes to go before second-half stoppage time, Kane struck his first Nations League goal, sealing the win.

Harry Kane leads England to beat Croatia 2-1, advance to Nations League finals

Mourinho's fight and Salah's strike summarise Premier League weekend action

Raheem Sterling struck twice as England defeated Spain 3-2 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. It was England's first victory on Spanish soil in the last 31 years.

Raheem Sterling struck twice as England defeated Spain 3-2 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday. It was England's first victory on Spanish soil in the last 31 years. Roughly 2,500 England supporters were among the more than 50,000 people in the stands at Seville's Benito Villamarin stadium to see the Three Lions deliver their best performance so far in the inaugural edition of the tournament. While the players couldn't wait to revel on social media after their terrific win, here is how they reacted: Captain Harry Kane posted a picture of himself on Instagram celebrating with teammates above the caption: "Big performance from the boys. Good pressing, clinical in front of goal and dug in." View this post on Instagram Big performance from the boys. Good pressing, clinical in front of goal and dug in. 👌 #ThreeLions #England 🦁🦁🦁 A post shared by Harry Kane (@harrykane) on Oct 15, 2018 at 2:14pm PDT × Kane's Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Kieran Trippier, who also played, opted for a photograph of himself with man of the match Raheem Sterling, scorer of two of England's goals. "That was a huge performance and a memorable night @England," Trippier wrote along with three lion emojis. View this post on Instagram That was a huge performance and a memorable night @England 🦁🦁🦁 A post shared by Kieran Trippier (@ktrippier2) on Oct 15, 2018 at 2:35pm PDT × Manchester City forward Sterling, whose opening goal was his first for England in three years, posted pictures of himself celebrating his two strikes which came either side of a goal from Marcus Rashford. "What an away team performance, against a very good Spain team... +3points !!," the 23-year-old wrote, which was quickly liked by Kane, Trippier and fellow starter Harry Winks. View this post on Instagram What an away team performance, against a very good Spain team 🦁🦁🦁 +3points !! A post shared by Raheem Sterling x 😇 (@sterling7) on Oct 15, 2018 at 2:41pm PDT × View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raheem Sterling x 😇 (@sterling7) on Oct 16, 2018 at 4:47am PDT × Rashford, who was set up for his goal by his captain, wrote underneath a picture of the frontline pair: "Link up like we've been working on in training @harrykane, great assist #threelions." View this post on Instagram Link up we’ve been working on in training @harrykane, great assist 🙌🏾 #ThreeLions A post shared by Marcus Rashford (@marcusrashford) on Oct 16, 2018 at 2:29am PDT × Liverpool defender Joe Gomez, after just his second start for the national team, paid tribute to the fans who made the trip to the Estadio Benito Villamarin and endured a nervy climax as Spain laid siege to England's goal in the dying minutes. View this post on Instagram Great win tonight away against a top team... thanks for all the support kept us going till the very end 🦁🦁🦁 A post shared by Joe Gomez (@joegomez5) on Oct 15, 2018 at 4:03pm PDT × "Great win tonight away against a top team... thanks for all the support kept us going till the very end," he wrote with a picture of the team lined up before the match. Aside from being a milestone win against one of the world's top teams, the victory also turns around England's fortunes in Group 4 of League A and gives them a chance of reaching the Nations League Finals next year. Spain still lead the group with six points after three games, while Gareth Southgate's side are second on four, leaving Croatia bottom with one point although the World Cup runners-up have a game in hand.

In pics: Here is how Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling react after England's victory over Spain

From Mourinho's troubles to Harry Kane's comeback, here are 5 things we learned in Premier League

Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur moved into fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at bottom club Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

But Spurs, who face Barcelona on Wednesday in the Champions League, have more injury concerns, with defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Mousa Dembele both replaced at half-time.

Attacking midfielder Dele Alli missed the trip to Yorkshire, also suffering from a hamstring injury, and while Tottenham never looked in real danger at Huddersfield, the injuries will be a blow to manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Kane, who scored twice in the corresponding fixture last season, opened the scoring in the 25th minute, rising well to angle home a header from the familiar source of a pinpoint Kieran Trippier corner.

Nine minutes later the England international doubled the lead, this time from the penalty spot after Danny Rose went down under a challenge from Florent Hadergjonaj after a clever exchange with Son Heung-min.

It was a decision which riled the home crowd but while there was little contact on Rose, Hadergjonaj paid the price for tugging the shirt of the Spurs wing back.

Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre rattled the woodwork with a volley just before the break and Terriers' substitute Isaac Mbenza brought a fine save out of Paulo Gazzaniga, which sparked some late pressure from the home side.

The Yorkshire crowd roared their side on until the end but for all their immense effort, their predictable long balls caused little trouble for Tottenham's defence.

"A very good win, very pleased. The attitude was fantastic," said Pochettino.

"It was a tough game against a team desperate to win. They were helped by their unbelievable fans, among the best I have found in England. Which is why we are so pleased to have three more points in the table today," he said.

Huddersfield manager David Wagner, whose team have just two points, said the response of the fans showed that his team were not far away from getting positive results.

"I think everyone who saw this game obviously saw that my team performed on a very good level," said the German.

"If you have such an incredible atmosphere in the stadium after a defeat ... the players left everything on the grass -- without any reward that’s true – but if you perform consistently … the reward will come."

Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur moved into fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at bottom club Huddersfield Town on Saturday. But Spurs, who face Barcelona on Wednesday in the Champions League, have more injury concerns, with defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Mousa Dembele both replaced at half-time.

Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham Hotspur moved into fourth place in the Premier League with a 2-0 win at bottom club Huddersfield Town on Saturday. But Spurs, who face Barcelona on Wednesday in the Champions League, have more injury concerns, with defender Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Mousa Dembele both replaced at half-time. Attacking midfielder Dele Alli missed the trip to Yorkshire, also suffering from a hamstring injury, and while Tottenham never looked in real danger at Huddersfield, the injuries will be a blow to manager Mauricio Pochettino. Kane, who scored twice in the corresponding fixture last season, opened the scoring in the 25th minute, rising well to angle home a header from the familiar source of a pinpoint Kieran Trippier corner. Nine minutes later the England international doubled the lead, this time from the penalty spot after Danny Rose went down under a challenge from Florent Hadergjonaj after a clever exchange with Son Heung-min. It was a decision which riled the home crowd but while there was little contact on Rose, Hadergjonaj paid the price for tugging the shirt of the Spurs wing back. Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre rattled the woodwork with a volley just before the break and Terriers' substitute Isaac Mbenza brought a fine save out of Paulo Gazzaniga, which sparked some late pressure from the home side. The Yorkshire crowd roared their side on until the end but for all their immense effort, their predictable long balls caused little trouble for Tottenham's defence. "A very good win, very pleased. The attitude was fantastic," said Pochettino. "It was a tough game against a team desperate to win. They were helped by their unbelievable fans, among the best I have found in England. Which is why we are so pleased to have three more points in the table today," he said. Huddersfield manager David Wagner, whose team have just two points, said the response of the fans showed that his team were not far away from getting positive results. "I think everyone who saw this game obviously saw that my team performed on a very good level," said the German. "If you have such an incredible atmosphere in the stadium after a defeat ... the players left everything on the grass -- without any reward that’s true – but if you perform consistently … the reward will come."

Harry Kane double at Huddersfield sends Spurs fourth

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane on Friday signed a new contract with the club, extending his tenure by two years to 2024.

The 24-year-old England captain was previously on a six-year contract signed in 2016.

Kane finished the 2017 calendar year as the top goalscorer in European football with 56 goals for club and country.&nbsp

He finished the recently concluded Premier League season with 30 strikes to his name.

Kane is preparing to lead England at the World Cup in Russia beginning on June 14.

He finished the recently concluded Premier League season with 30 strikes to his name

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane on Friday signed a new contract with the club, extending his tenure by two years to 2024. The 24-year-old England captain was previously on a six-year contract signed in 2016. Kane finished the 2017 calendar year as the top goalscorer in European football with 56 goals for club and country. He finished the recently concluded Premier League season with 30 strikes to his name. Kane is preparing to lead England at the World Cup in Russia beginning on June 14.

Striker Kane signs new six-year contract with Tottenham Hotspur

England striker Danny Welbeck says he has emerged mentally stronger after a knee injury ruled him out of the 2016 European Championships and the 27-year-old is keen to make an impact in next month's World Cup in Russia.

Welbeck was sidelined for eight months after undergoing surgery for the knee problem but the Arsenal forward has since forced his way back into England manager Gareth Southgate's plans.

"Missing out on the last tournament with injury was frustrating for me," Welbeck told British media.

"If you get a big injury, it is not easy at all to deal with it. It's a lonely period when you're not out on the pitch helping your teammates and doing what you love doing.

"You can develop mentally when you're away from the pitch. You can take all that frustration, pain and hurt from not playing and try and use that as a way of helping you and reminding you of what you are missing out on."

Welbeck has 15 international goals in 37 matches, the most for any player in the squad bound for Russia and three more than first choice striker Harry Kane, and will look to add to his tally when England take on Nigeria in a friendly on Saturday.

"I haven't pointed that out to the manager, he knows all the ins and outs but that is something I want to build on," Welbeck added ahead of the match at Wembley. "I have had a lot of success on the international stage and I want that to continue."

England open their World Cup campaign with a Group G encounter against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18, before taking on Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24 and finally Belgium in Kaliningrad four days later.

Welbeck was sidelined for eight months after undergoing surgery for the knee problem but the Arsenal forward has since forced his way back into England manager Gareth Southgate's plans

England striker Danny Welbeck says he has emerged mentally stronger after a knee injury ruled him out of the 2016 European Championships and the 27-year-old is keen to make an impact in next month's World Cup in Russia. Welbeck was sidelined for eight months after undergoing surgery for the knee problem but the Arsenal forward has since forced his way back into England manager Gareth Southgate's plans. "Missing out on the last tournament with injury was frustrating for me," Welbeck told British media. "If you get a big injury, it is not easy at all to deal with it. It's a lonely period when you're not out on the pitch helping your teammates and doing what you love doing. "You can develop mentally when you're away from the pitch. You can take all that frustration, pain and hurt from not playing and try and use that as a way of helping you and reminding you of what you are missing out on." Welbeck has 15 international goals in 37 matches, the most for any player in the squad bound for Russia and three more than first choice striker Harry Kane, and will look to add to his tally when England take on Nigeria in a friendly on Saturday. "I haven't pointed that out to the manager, he knows all the ins and outs but that is something I want to build on," Welbeck added ahead of the match at Wembley. "I have had a lot of success on the international stage and I want that to continue." England open their World Cup campaign with a Group G encounter against Tunisia in Volgograd on June 18, before taking on Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on June 24 and finally Belgium in Kaliningrad four days later.

FIFA World Cup: Danny Welbeck ready to fire for England

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