Southgate will keep challenging Kane to prove he is at world-class level
HARRY KANE is setting his sights on challenging Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the title of best player on the planet.
Kane strengthened his status as England’s leading light with both goals in Monday’s World Cup opener against Tunisia, but is hungry for even more.
Prior to the match he lightheartedly targeted a hat-trick to equal Ronaldo’s treble against Spain, but it is increasingly clear there is nothing frivolous about his desire to compete with two men who have dominated the sport for a decade.
Nobody else has won the prestigious Balon d’Or in the past 10 years, but that is the level for which Kane is shooting.
“To be the best player in the world you have to aim high, you can’t aim low,” he said.
“I want to prove myself at a major tournament, I want to be up there with the best in the world and the only way to do that is to perform on the big stage and in the big moments.
“I had to prove people wrong throughout my career and I love proving to myself that I can do it. Ronaldo is the best in the world, up there with Messi, but the challenge is there to be with them.
“Put no limits on yourself, nobody should. I have been itching to get out there and showcase myself on the big stage.”
Nobody is more appreciative of Kane’s skills than England manager Gareth Southgate, who awarded him the honour of captaining the side in Russia and set him up as a role model for all others to follow.
Yet Southgate shows the same ambitious streak as the Tottenham man, declining unequivocally to label Kane world class.
Invited to do so in the aftermath of his decisive turn in Volgograd, where England were 2-1 winners, Southgate instead indicated his own desire to keep demanding more.
“I’m going to keep challenging him on that because I’m always a little uncertain as to what that title means and what you need to do to really gain it,” Southgate said. “But Harry’s a player we are privileged to have and I’m delighted to have him as my captain.”
Southgate sees Kane’s belief as a critical part of his makeup and feels he shows the same kind of authority as some of the country’s most accomplished recent internationals.
“I think you see that in the top, top players and I think he’s shown that over a period of time in the league,” Southgate said.
MANAGER Gareth Southgate is demanding a week of “perfectly” executed preparation as England look to build on the victory against Tunisia and close in on the World Cup knockout phase.
Displaying impressive character at the end of a game that had started with no little skill, captain Harry Kane headed home his second goal to secure the Three Lions a deserved 2-1 win in Monday’s Group G opener.
It was England’s first winning start to a major tournament since 2006 and puts them in a strong position to reach the last-16 heading into Sunday’s match against minnows Panama in Nizhny Novgorod.
There appears little chance of complacency seeping in, though, given Southgate’s focus and the players’ hunger to improve.
“There are always things (to improve),” said the England boss. “We are a team that are improving and developing, and therefore there will always be things that we can get better at.
“We’re a long way from perfection. What pleased me is that there has been a long period of work gone into (Monday’s) result from all the players and all of the support team.
“If you don’t get the win, even though you’ve done so many things right, that can breed a little bit of doubt.
“Of course there would be a different feel externally, so the next four, five days would be a little less comfortable for people.
“What we’ve got to make sure is we enjoy it, but we don’t have comfort for the next four or five days. We have got a job to do.
“We have to prepare as perfectly for Panama to make sure we get the result in that game we need.
“I think the players know it’s hard to win a match in the World Cup against any opposition and Tunisia were opposition we respected.
“But Panama for 45 minutes were obdurate opponents against Belgium and we’ll have to prepare 100 per cent right to win it.”
It took until the second half for Belgium to break down Panama’s resolve, going on to run out 3-0 victors and sit atop Group G on goal difference.
Patience was key for Roberto Martinez’s men in that match, just as it was for England when grabbing three points against Tunisia.
Perhaps it was inevitable that England would taper off given the lack of experience within the group, but the players’ composure and focus should not be underestimated.
Former Sheffield United and Hull City centre-back Harry Maguire ended particularly strongly given his nervy start, earning high praise from former England defender Southgate.
“I think his potential is huge,” he said of the Leicester centreback, who provided the assist for Kane’s late winner.
“He’s probably the one player – him and (Jordan) Pickford – who haven’t played in cup finals or on big-stage Champions League games in the past.
“Maybe it was a voyage of discovery for him (more) than some of the others, but he has great composure, really good defensive qualities.
“Most things land on his bonce in both penalty areas and he’s got a really lovely, calm temperament.
“For me, he has outstanding potential and I hope (the game) has given him a lot of belief.”
Maguire was among nine World Cup debutants in the starting line-up against Tunisia.
It was the same opposition that Southgate made his bow against on the world stage 20 years ago, when Glenn Hoddle’s men opened with a 2-0 win.