Harry Kane's equaliser 'huge moment' for England - Gareth Southgate

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SCOTLAND manager Gordon Strachan said he was proud of his players after they were just seconds away from a historic win over the "old enemy" England in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park.

The Liverpool midfielder was close to claiming an assist in the first half when he teed up Harry Kane, who failed to connect, and then forced a save from the goalkeeper at his near post after a clever turn and strike.

Gareth Southgate's side had taken the lead in the 70th minute when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had fired beyond Craig Gordon.

Seemingly relishing the opportunity, Kane got on the score sheet as he netted a late equaliser following a hectic spell which had seen Scotland come from behind to lead through two Leigh Griffiths free-kicks. Rashford pounced on the loose ball and forced a good save from Gordon.

"We're in stoppage time, 2-1 down - to get that goal was special". In the marines, they are life and death situations and we took as much as we could from the game and stood up to be counted.

Scotland appeared to have secured a first victory over its fierce rival since 1999, but the Premier League leading scorer for the last two seasons came to his country's rescue.

Griffiths, clutching his man-of-the-match champagne, admitted his second goal "probably" gave him his best feeling in football but said: "I am gutted".

"We knew it was going to be tough and credit to them for standing there and getting the two goals, but it was nice to not lose the game".

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"So these memories will be with me - I will look at the players and tell them you have to keep coming back and taking knocks like that".

As the game neared to an end Leigh Griffiths scored his first goal for Scotland with an incredible free-kick from outside the box which rocketed into the corner of the net.

"I can't be annoyed", Strachan said.

The England boss took the squad away with the Royal Marines in an unorthodox start to the worldwide break and, having boldly - if understandably - overlooked Wayne Rooney, handed Harry Kane the captaincy in Scotland.

"We have to be a team that are never beaten".

Kane recently spoke of his desire to become England's captain on a permanent basis. Wayne Rooney was England's captain when he held a regular place in the team and Chelsea defender Gary Cahill skippered the side for England's March friendly against Germany in Dortmund. "We have four games left and we could win all of them".

England's position at the top of Europe Group F weakened as Slovakia and Slovenia both won, but it left Hampden Park relieved to have kept its eight-year unbeaten run in tournament qualifying matches intact.

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