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Jonathan Cook’s World Game Wrap-Up

Posted on | Posted by Jonathan Cook

Kane in a hurry as England crush Albania

Harry Kane’s first goals in six matches cranked up the rumour mill after England made light work of Albania in a World Cup qualifier.

Kane, whose performances for Tottenham Hotspur have been below his usual standard this season, scored a perfect hat-trick inside 27 minutes of England’s 5-0 win that all but secured their place at next year’s World Cup in Qatar.

A return to form for the 28-year-old is exactly what Tottenham’s new manager Antonio Conte would have envisaged when he took over recently, although it may also come with some unwanted attention.

Manchester City have long been interested in Kane, albeit with a lower evaluation than Spurs, and his six goals in his last five international appearances have prompted fresh speculation that they could pounce in the January transfer window.

England now need only a point against San Marino this week to qualify for Qatar.

Sturridge out of quarantine and ready to go

After getting through hotel quarantine, Perth Glory striker Daniel Sturridge will enjoy one game in Western Australia before Richard Garcia’s side embark on a series of eight successive away matches.

Glory take on Adelaide United in their season opener at HBF Park on Saturday with former England, Chelsea and Liverpool striker Sturridge, his former Reds teammate Brad Jones and Socceroos midfielder Brandon O’Neill among the new faces in the WA side.

It will be January 15 before Perth fans see Glory again, by which time they’ll know a lot more about how well Sturridge and company have adjusted to their new surrounds.

Such a long period on the road is tough on Glory but it could also help the new players settle and have a galvanising effect on the team.

All aboard the manager’s merry-go-round

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has returned to the English Premier League to take charge of Aston Villa after Scottish side Rangers received around AUD$8 million in compensation.

Gerrard, who took over at Rangers in 2018, has replaced sacked Villa boss Dean Smith, who is already lined up to take charge of Norwich City.

The last-placed Canaries dumped Daniel Farke after he orchestrated a first win of the season over Brentford. Chelsea great Frank Lampard was Norwich’s initial target but when he pulled out of the running, Smith was pencilled in.

Newcastle’s recent confirmation that Eddie Howe will take over at St James’ Park means that of the bottom five clubs in the Premier League, only Burnley’s Sean Dyche has managed to hang on to his job since the start of the season.

Souttar absence leaves Socceroos short

Harry Souttar won’t play against China on Tuesday and the news could be a whole lot worse for the Socceroos defender.

Taken off on a stretcher during the Socceroos 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia last week, Souttar has had scans on a knee injury that Australia’s coach Graham Arnold feared was “very serious.”

Arnold has brought in Kuwait-based Ryan McGowan and Sunderland’s Bailey Wright to cover for Souttar’s absence as Australia chase maximum points against China in Sharjah.

With five World Cup qualifying games to play, the Socceroos trail group leaders Saudi Arabia by three points with third-placed Japan just a point behind Australia.

The top two teams in the group qualifying automatically for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The third-placed team can still qualify through a play-off system.

Mbappe, Bale and Flick in the spotlight

Four goals from Kylian Mbappe, Gareth Bale’s 100th appearance for Wales and a record-breaking start for Germany manager Hansi Flick were among the notable achievements in European World Cup qualifying matches.

Flick became the first Germany manager to win his first six games in charge as 10-man Liechtenstein were smashed 9-0 courtesy of seven different scorers. Germany followed that victory with a 4-1 win over Armenia to extend Flick’s winning start to seven games.

It was a stroll for France, too, as Mbappe contributed half the goals in an 8-0 win over Kazakhstan that ensured Les Bleus will be heading to Qatar.

Wales were able to rest footballing icon Bale after half-time as they cruised to a 5-1 win over Belarus. No footballer has had more of an impact on Welsh football than Bale, whose career has been defined by spectacular goals.

He didn’t find the net against Belarus but will be fit to take on Belgium this week.

Mitrovic heads Serbia into World Cup

Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a late winner to earn Serbia a place at next year’s World Cup and send Portugal into a tricky play-off scenario.

Portugal needed a draw to qualify and were on track after Renato Sanches’ early goal was pegged back by Dusan Tadic. But Mitrovic headed in a 90th-minute winner.

Portugal’s Iberian rivals Spain have qualified automatically after Alvaro Morata scored late to seal a 1-0 victory over Sweden, who are into the play-offs.

Croatia qualified for Qatar when Fedor Kudryashov scored an own goal to condemn Russia to a 1-0 defeat.

Western United get lucky in FFA Cup win

Former Socceroos striker John Aloisi warmed up for the new A-League season by overseeing Western United’s 2-1 FFA Cup play-off victory over Newcastle Jets.

Aloisi, famed for the goal-scoring heroics that ended Australia’s 32-year World Cup drought back in 2006, was in charge of his first game as United coach.

With no Video Assistant Referee for FFA Cup games, United dodged an early scare when Angus Thurgate’s shot was pushed onto a post by goalkeeper Jamie Young and the ball appeared to cross the line.

A goal wasn’t given and Western United instead took the lead through Lachie Wales. Brazilian import Daniel Penha gave Jets fans a glimpse of his ability with a stunning free kick to equalise before Aleksandar Prijovic cashed in on an error by goalkeeper Jack Duncan to tap home the winner.

The Jets will take on New South Wales rivals Central Coast Mariners in their A-League season opener, while Western United are at home to Melbourne Victory on Saturday.




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