SCOTLAND V CROATIA

the majors kicking them out in the pre-quarters. “That (loss) gave me that hunger and desire going into Russia 2018,” Kane said on Overlap. “I said before the tournament began that I wanted to win the Golden Boot. Almost got laughed off in the press room—what with the likes of Ronaldo and Messi around.”

If pain is his primary motivation, then Kane has plenty to draw from between the two Euros. The loss to Croatia in the World Cup semis; the loss to Liverpool in the Champions League final; the loss to Manchester City in the League Cup final; not qualifying for next season’s Champions League. These are enough wounds for an entire team to tap into, but Kane is surrounded by serial winners—who have won everything there is to win at the club level but nothing of worth in the England shirt. To do that, they now turn to a legend who has won nothing at all—except a whole lot of goals and even more respect.