Kane he do it?
The 21- year- old England forward isn’t a one- trick pony that many of his under- firing predecessors had been
Is Harry Kane the messiah to rescue the England football team from the depths of underachievement? The media in England were full of adulatory reports about Kane’s debut goal 80 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Lithuania in a Euro 2016 qualifier over the weekend. Some of them went over the top as if the Tottenham forward had scored a winner in the semifinal of the World Cup. To be fair to Kane, he is an excellent forward who is superb in the air and not bad at all on the ground. But to elevate him to an exalted position, which he doesn’t deserve to inhabit now, would be grossly unfair. The longsuffering fans of England would only be hoping that “Harry Kane” headlines are preserved for an important result in 2016 Euro or the 2018 World Cup. Kane’s name lends itself to a lot of puns but the player must deliver on the field to deserve them.
England’s football history is a litany of misplaced faiths in the last two decades. Barring Michael Owen, none of the boy wonders trotted out by the English media became a man enough to end the country’s unenviable record in matches that matter most. Exaggerated optimism spewed by pundits after Kane’s fine debut must have made fans’ flesh creep because they had heard the same paeans sung about Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll. It’s pertinent to remember that even Rooney, easily the most talented and driven player of his generation, hasn’t done justice to his potential. Those who watched Rooney plod on in the last two World Cups would wonder whether the Manchester United deserved all the plaudits that came his way when he made his England debut in 2003. Banging in goals in club football is totally different to proving oneself on the grand stage of the World Cup. If the trick has eluded a player of Rooney’s class, then it’s a given that the likes of Kane will be battling heavier adds to make a mark.
Not even a starter for Tottenham, who share a penchant to punch below their weight with England, Kane has quickly established himself in the main XI of the north London side. He has already scored 29 goals and it’s no mean achievement. That Kane was able to give his best against Arsenal and Chelsea spoke of his mental strength. The 21- year- old England forward isn’t a one- trick pony that many of his under- firing predecessors had been. He is dynamic and can score a variety of goals. Kane must not be tempted to believe all the hype about him. Above all, he must stick around at White Hart Lane for a couple of seasons to develop into a finished product. He can flourish as a big fish in a small pond rather than losing his way as a small fish in a big pond.