Proud Kane wants second crack at glory

Amid the pride and the pain and the words of encouragement there was an admission: “We don’t know if this kind of opportunity will come round again,” Harry Kane said following England’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final defeat against Croatia.

But there was also satisfaction. “The gaffer [Gareth Southgate] had a little word and told us we should all be proud of ourselves,” England’s captain said. “Nothing is going to make us feel any better but we have come a long way. All we can do is try and build on that. We have a solid foundation from a twoyear period with this manager and it is so important we carry this on and continue to show we can do well in these major tournaments.

‘‘The aim now is not to have to wait another 20-odd years to get in another big semi-final. We must go again and try and achieve our dreams.”

For Kane, one of his ambitions is likely to be realised – with six goals he is the top scorer before the final two matches are played. He has led England very well, setting an example on and off the pitch and being the standard-bearer for the positive approach that Southgate wanted.

The importance of his two predatory goals against Tunisia should not be underestimated and, while three of his goals came from penalties and another was a deflection, he has announced himself on the world stage.

And yet it has been a curious tournament for Kane, with his influence waning in the quarter and semi-finals. It was not for the want of trying – he ran more against Croatia than in any other game – but he had fewer touches in the opposition penalty area.

In neither match did Kane register a shot on target – he did hit the post against Croatia when, perhaps, he should have scored. The 24-yearold was not helped in that few clear opportunities were created for him.

Southgate flatly refuted any suggestion Kane might have been struggling from the cramp and tight calf he suffered against Colombia. Even so, Kane did appear more sluggish.

One tactical explanation for that was that he was asked to drop deeper against Croatia, with Raheem Sterling the striker further up the pitch. This denied Kane space and although he has said he likes the “No10” role, he is at his best up against the opposition defence when he can turn his marker.

His tormenting of Croatia’s Dejan Lovren last season, when Tottenham Hotspur beat Liverpool and the defender was hauled off during the first half, was an approach England should have tried to replicate.

“I know we can look back and say we could have done this or done that but, at the end of the day, it is a case of small margins in a big game and it just did not go our way when it mattered,” Kane argued, while claiming he wants to play in tomorrow’s third-place play-off against Belgium when wholesale changes can surely be expected.

“It is not a game we wanted to be in. It is what it is and so we will try to play that game with as much pride as we can and try to finish on a high,” he said.