Harry Kane it with
HARRY KANE believes success with England at this summer’s World Cup 2018 would trump any achievement at club level with Tottenham Hotspur as he prepares to lead the national team in Russia.
Gareth Southgate’s squad checked into their base in the rural village of Repino, 30km north of St Petersburg yesterday and captain Kane is confident that he and his teammates can return home triumphant in a month’s time.
The 24-year-old claimed last month that anything less than lifting the World Cup trophy in Moscow on July 15 would represent failure for England, despite a poor record in recent international tournaments and low expectations back at home.
Kane, who signed a new contract with Tottenham last week, has now revealed that though he hopes to claim all honours at club level in the years to c ome, e ven winning the Champions League would not compare to success in Russia t hi s summer.
“It is hard to look beyond the World Cup – I don’t think any player would tell you any different,” the England captain said.
“It is the one competition that everybody dreams of winning. That is No. 1, first and foremost.
“Obviously I understand you have got the Champions League and Premier League – so many big competitions – and it is every season. But for me I don’t think it gets much bigger than the World Cup.
“I would be surprised if the majority of players did not say the World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world. I would love to win everything with Tottenham, but for me personally the World Cup outweighs them all.”
Having rotated the captaincy throughout England’s qualifying campaign in an attempt to foster a culture of leadership within his squad, Southgate eventually selected Kane to wear the armband in Russia.
Jordan Henderson, Li v e r p o o l ’ s c l u b captain, was the other contender for the role and though Kane does not regularly skipper Tottenham, he does not believe he needs to change his game much in order to take on the “huge honour”. “I’ve always been someone who is vocal to players, to push myself,” he said. “I try to lead by example. On the pitch I try to work hard every game, play with pride and passion and that’s what I will do with the armband as well. “I think it’s important that we have other players who take responsibility and take ownership of the team as well. “When players are having a good or bad day, there are players around who can see that and do something about it.” Kane will not be afraid of tellingoff his teammates, either.