England vs Bulgaria prediction: How will Euro 2020 qualifier play out at Wembley?

Harry Kane's hat-trick helped blow away Bulgaria and continue England's European Championship qualification cakewalk.

After finishing third in the inaugural Nations League over the summer, the Three Lions got their international season under way at the stadium they hope to end the campaign at when Wembley hosts the Euro 2020 final.

England are among the favourites to lift the trophy next summer and qualification for the finals is well in hand, with March's drubbings of the Czech Republic and Montenegro followed by a 4-0 win against Bulgaria thanks to Kane's treble and a Raheem Sterling goal.

England vs Bulgaria latest key points

• ​Harry Kane gives England an early lead 
• Kane doubles lead from penalty spot just after half-time
• Raheem Sterling adds a third from close range
• Kane completes hat-trick with second penalty

Show latest update

2019-09-07T14:04:27.570Z

Hello! Welcome along to live coverage of England's Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria at Wembley. Here's our preview by chief sports writer Miguel Delaney:

 

What England's clash with Bulgaria says about the state of the international game

• Lawrence Ostlere
• 7 September 2019 15:04

2019-09-07T14:42:06.213Z

The team is in!

England: Pickford; Trippier, Keane, Maguire, Rose; Henderson, Rice, Barkley; Sterling, Kane, Rashford.

 

 

• Lawrence Ostlere
• 7 September 2019 15:42

2019-09-07T14:59:45.680Z

So Kosovo have just beaten the Czech Republic. They are proving a really strong side, the Kosovans, and England will have to be wary of taking them too lightly when they meet at St Mary's. 

• Lawrence Ostlere
• 7 September 2019 15:59

2019-09-07T15:02:24.100Z

It means Kosovo are top of the group, with England second, although England have a couple of games in hand, including this one coming right up.

 

Group A

Kosovo, pld 4, pts 8
England pld 2, pts 6
Czech Republic pld 4, pts 6
Bulgaria pld 4, pts 2
Montenegro pld 4, pts 2

• Lawrence Ostlere
• 7 September 2019 16:02

2019-09-07T15:05:50.490Z

Latest news from PA this afternoon – Jesse Lingard has had to withdraw from the squad and he has returned to Manchester United. 

 

Manchester United's Jesse Lingard has pulled out of the England squad through illness.
A poor start to the season meant the 26-year-old was a contentious selection for the Three Lions' Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.
Lingard missed training on the eve of Saturday's Group A match against Bulgaria and was conspicuous by his omission from the 23-man England squad submitted to UEFA.
The Football Association later confirmed that the attacking midfielder will play no part for Gareth Southgate's men during this international break due to illness.
A post on the England team's Twitter account read: "£ThreeLions midfielder JesseLingard has returned to his club through illness. Get well soon, Jesse!"
Lingard is the second player to withdraw from England's initial 25-man squad after Manchester United team-mate Aaron Wan-Bissaka left on Tuesday due to a back issue.

• Lawrence Ostlere
• 7 September 2019 16:05

2019-09-07T15:10:01.996Z

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Here's Tony Evans' exclusive interview with Jadon Sancho, who starts on the bench this afternoon:

 

Jadon Sancho interview: A journey from cage tricks to England star

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:10

2019-09-07T15:17:34.193Z

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:17

2019-09-07T15:26:56.906Z

Gareth Southgate has emphasised the importance of giving the nation something to cheer about ahead of this game. The hope, according to the England boss, is to offer a distraction from the political developments of the last couple of weeks:

 

We have helped to provide joy at a time when there isn’t a lot about for people. The cricket team have done that in a couple of significant moments already this year and I have loved watching that.

The World Cup final was brilliant and the Ben Stokes innings was a real last stand of British resilience and, living in Yorkshire, the atmosphere at Headingley probably added to that as well.

We all love those moments, sport should do that – sport should take you away from the day-to-day and allow us to dream and allow us to be excited about things that, in the overall scheme of things, aren’t important. There are far more important things, but we can bring joy to people and it is a privilege to be in a position to be able to do it."

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:26

2019-09-07T15:40:49.670Z

There could be England debuts for Mason Mount, James Maddison and Tyrone Mings today. All three are on the bench.

 

The latter was a mortgage adviser before turning professional as a footballer, so a first international appearance would be a significant marker of progress for the Aston Villa defender.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:40

2019-09-07T15:44:36.360Z

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:44

2019-09-07T15:56:06.843Z

The players are out at Wembley! There aren't too many familiar faces in the Bulgaria lineup, although they are fielding a couple of neutralised Brazilians: winger Wanderson makes his debut, while his Ludogorets teammate Marcelinho starts up front.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:56

2019-09-07T15:58:24.916Z

The national anthems have been sung! We're almost ready to get underway...

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 16:58

KICK OFF

2019-09-07T16:01:21.496Z

England kick off and immediately launch the ball towards the Bulgaria box. Expect this to be very much a game of attack vs defence.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:01

2019-09-07T16:03:00.590Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

2 minutes

 

Sterling attempts to latch onto a Kane pass in behind the Bulgaria defence but it's prodded behind for the game's first corner. Barkley's delivery is straight at the first man, but drops to Rashford, who sees a powerful effort blocked.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:03

2019-09-07T16:05:34.563Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

5 minutes

 

England have monopolised the ball in the early stages, probing patiently and looking for an opening. The visitors have been well organised so far, though.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:05

2019-09-07T16:07:05.020Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

5 minutes

 

Bulgaria break down the left through Wanderson, who picks out Marcelinho in the box. The latter hits a low shot on his left foot, but it deflects of Keane and it's an easy save for Pickford. Promising signs for Bulgaria, though.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:07

2019-09-07T16:09:40.003Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

9 minutes

 

The away side appear to be growing in confidence, seeing more of the ball and continuing to threaten on the break. England have been a little hesitant so far.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:09

2019-09-07T16:11:44.413Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

11 minutes

 

Sterling gets the crowd on their feet for the first time, driving past Popov and attempting to send the ball across goal on his left foot. His cross is blocked for a corner, which comes to nothing.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:11

2019-09-07T16:15:45.980Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

15 minutes

 

It's all a bit stagnant from an England perspective. Bulgaria are finding it fairly easy to keep them at bay, sitting deep in their own half and closing off any gaps that appear.

 

Rose attempt to inject some life into the game, drilling the ball towards the edge of the box where Henderson is waiting. The Liverpool midfielder catches it sweetly on the volley but his effort flies high and wide.

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:15

2019-09-07T16:18:52.756Z

England 0-0 Bulgaria

 

17 minutes

 

Sterling beats two players and surges towards the box. But Malinov does brilliantly to get a foot in and stop the England man before he can make any more progress. 

• Callum Rice-Coates
• 7 September 2019 17:18

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