No divisions in England side – Kane

ENGLAND’S bid to end their World Cup drought stretching back over half a century will not be undone by a divided squad, captain Harry Kane said.

The 24-year-old striker said there were no cliques within the squad that was to fly out to Russia later yesterday seeking to emulate their 1966 predecessors in lifting the trophy.

Both Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard claimed the reason they and the others who made up the so-called “golden generation” fell short at successive finals was that they could not shake off their different club rivalries when they joined up with their England teammates.

Kane, though, told the English daily newspapers this was not the case with the present group under Gareth Southgate – as many of them had played together at Under-21 level.

“We all get on very well and have come through the ranks together,” Kane said.

“We definitely don’t have that divide in the team anymore.”

Kane also took issue with Ferdinand, who told The Times last month his priority had been winning trophies with Manchester United.

“It’s the one competition that everybody dreams of winning. That’s No 1.

“I’d be surprised if the majority of players did not say the World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world.

“For me personally the World Cup outweighs them all.”

Kane does not expect a repeat of the woeful Euro 2016 campaign which saw them beaten by minnows Iceland in the last 16 and cost then manager Roy Hodgson his job.

“I’m confident it won’t happen [again] – I won’t say 100% because you never know in football – but we’re proud to be here, we will work hard, be energetic.”

England open their campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday. – AFP