Kane: I’m better prepared for this World Cup
Harry Kane says he can’t wait for the World Cup to begin – and insists he will be better prepared than he was at Euro 2016 in France.
The Tottenham striker goes into today’s game against Leicester needing to repeat the four-goal haul he hit against them a year ago to overtake Mo Salah for the Premier League’s Golden Boot.
Kane starts the day on 28 goals, three behind the Liverpool man, and although he has scored four times in six games, he has not looked the same since rushing back from an ankle injury six weeks ago.
But Kane says he will be fresher and more experienced going into this summer’s World Cup than he was two years ago, when he had a disappointing tournament as England crashed out to Iceland.
Kane had barely rested in two years, having played every game in England’s European under-21 campaign the previous summer, and looked tired at Euro 2016.
But now he says: “This summer I will be fresher. That was my first tournament so there were a lot of expectations. Having that experience will help and I definitely feel better.”
He and his Tottenham team-mates qualified for the Champions League for the third season running when Kane’s goal beat Newcastle last Monday – his 43rd goal in 51 games for club and country this season.
“Obviously I had a good rest last summer. This year has been tough with all the competitions we played in.
“But I’m feeling good. I’m feeling like anyone would at this stage of the season but there is plenty of time to recover and get ready for the World Cup.”
Tottenham’s season finishes today and he said: “We get a week off before we meet up with England and I’m going to go away with my wife and relax.
“I’ll tick over, obviously, but it’s more about relaxing mentally, playing a bit of golf and spending some time with my wife.
“Then we’ll meet up with England and have four days together, prepare for the friendlies and get ready.”
Gareth Southgate names his squad this Wednesday
ahead of friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica before flying to Russia on June 12.
Kane knows expectation will be high, for both him and England. “It’s the World Cup and you can’t expect to go without any pressure. Every team faces it and we are no different. The difference is that this year we have a younger team, a more inexperienced team, so maybe the expectation is not so big.
“But Russia is still important. We have to try to prepare and do our best and see what happens. The Euros is big but the World Cup is the next step. It’s sport’s biggest competition and I’m excited to be in it.”
Before that he wants to end the season on a high. “Getting 30 league goals is definitely the aim. I always try to improve every year and it was 29 last year so to reach 30 is important.
“The Golden Boot is still there but who knows? It is good that the pressure is off so hopefully we can score a few goals. We’ll try to do the same as last year [Kane scored four in a 6-1 win at Leicester last May]. It will be tough but it is about getting to that 30-goal mark for me.’’