Lithuania 0-1 England: 7 things you missed as 3-4-3 fails

A first-half Harry Kane penalty saw England secure an underwhelming 1-0 win over Lithuania in Vilnius on Sunday.

Kane was spot on from 12 yards after Tottenham team-mate Dele Alli had been fouled by Ovidijus Verbickas.

The win saw Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions finish their World Cup qualifying campaign with 26 points out of a possible 30.

With little conventional action to speak of, Sportsmail’s Robert Summerscales has rounded up seven things you may have missed… 

Harry Kane scored his 15th goal in 10 games for club and country as England beat Lithuania 1-0

Poncho army

With the rain pouring down in Vilnius, where the temperature was around 8°C, England fans inevitably got wet.

England had been allocated 1,757 tickets for the game at the 5,067-capacity LFF Stadium, which unfortunately for them has no roof.

Many visiting fans likely arrived in Lithuania unprepared for such sodden conditions, but their hosts kindly provided every supporter a complimentary poncho. 

But all the free ponchos were either yellow or green – the colours of the home side – which made it look like there were more Lithuania fans than there actually were.

England fans were each given a free yellow or green poncho as the rain fell hard in Vilnius

England fans were each given a free yellow or green poncho as the rain fell hard in Vilnius

England spot on… again 

Harry Kane’s fine finish from the spot means England have now converted 14 of their last 15 penalties.

This is a promising sign ahead of Russia 2018, where shootouts could well be the difference between success and failure.

Prior to this game, Kane had never converted a penalty for the Three Lions.

He missed his first against Turkey in 2016 when his effort skimmed the outside of the post, but he found the inside of the upright on this occasion, leaving goalkeeper Ernestas Setkus with absolutely no chance. 

Striker Kane's clinical finish means England have now converted 14 of their last 15 penalties

Striker Kane’s clinical finish means England have now converted 14 of their last 15 penalties

3-4-3 experiment

England started with a back three – the first time they have done so in a competitive match in 11 years – as Southgate launched a pre-World Cup experiment.

Southgate said before kickoff that he wanted England to be tighter at the back in order to be prepared for better opposition in Russia. 

Speaking to ITV Sport, he explained: ‘We have to pass the ball better, we have to keep possession and our connections have been better in this system.

‘When we lost the ball the other night we were wide open on the counter and this should also help.’

The results of the experiment were inconclusive at best. Although England kept a third clean sheet in four games, they conceded more shots than they had in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Slovenia.

Harry Maguire made his England debut as Southgate started the match with a 3-4-3 formation

Harry Maguire made his England debut as Southgate started the match with a 3-4-3 formation

Close shave for Keane 

Although Lithuania registered nine efforts at goal, Jack Butland’s hardest save was to spare team-mate Michael Keane’s blushes.

Butland did well to get down low to his right after Keane had sent a wayward clearance towards his own goal.

Michael Keane almost scored a 55th-minute own goal

But Jack Butland made a fine save

Michael Keane almost scored a 55th-minute own goal but Jack Butland made a fine save

Wonderful Winks 

Harry Winks made an impressive England debut, which saw him named Sportsmail’s man of the match.

The 21-year-old, playing in central midfield and wearing the famous No 7 shirt, constantly made himself available to receive the ball and was positive in possession.

Winks had a higher pass completion rate – 95.9% – than any other England player and was combative defensively, making two tackles and one interception.

The Spurs starlet came close to scoring a debut goal but a shot with his weaker left foot was well saved by Lithuania No 1 Setkus.

Before the match, Southgate had said: ‘He’s a player we want on the ball. He’s a very good passer of the ball.

‘Of course it’s a bit early for him, but, having called him up for the Under 21s, this is a great opportunity to look at him. And I think it’s a good game for him to come into. ‘

Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks was England’s stand-out player on his international debut

Pochettino production line

Winks is the 12th player managed by Mauricio Pochettino to make his senior England debut since the Argentine arrived in the Premier League in 2013.

Five Southampton stars earned their first caps during his reign at St Mary’s.

Now Winks is the seventh Spurs player to make his Three Lions bow following Pochettino’s move to White Hart Lane in 2014.

ENGLAND DEBUTANTS PLAYING UNDER MAURICIO POCHETTINO

Rickie Lambert (Southampton)

Fraser Forster (Southampton)

Adam Lallana (Southampton)

Jay Rodriguez (Southampton)

Luke Shaw (Southampton)

Dele Alli (Tottenham)

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Eric Dier (Tottenham)

Danny Rose (Tottenham)

Ryan Mason (Tottenham)

Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)

Harry Winks (Tottenham)

Who put that post there!?

Lithuania stopper Setkus appeared to be taken by surprise as he walked into his goalpost during the second half.

In fairness to the 32-year-old, who plays his club football for Hapoel Haifa in Israel, he was walking backwards.

But surely a goalkeeper of his experience should know his way around his penalty area… 

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