LET’S HOPE YOU HIT ANOTHER TREBLE, HARRY!
HAT-TRICK hero Harry Kane has had no trouble hitting the target this World Cup and England’s captain was at it again yesterday. Talisman Kane, who hit three against Panama, was the latest England player to take on a member of the press in a darts challenge. Kane needed 10 from his last arrow to beat the man from the Mirror and threw a 12. Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has defended under-fire goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Pickford was criticised for failing to stop Adnan Januzaj’s winner in the 1-0 defeat by Belgium. Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois mocked Pickford for his height and said he would have caught Januzaj’s strike. Southgate said: ‘He absolutely retains my confidence. I’m pleased with his performances, he knows the belief I have in him. He is an important fit for the way we play. I don’t think he’s had much chance with the goals. That can be a keeper’s lot at times.’ On the inference that Pickford, at 6ft 1in, is too short, Southgate added: ‘I remember when we were talking about young keepers at a conference. Martin Thomas, who was Under 21s goalkeeping coach, was talking about the difference between a couple of keepers and, size-wise, he was saying, “We’re talking about a Cadbury’s Creme Egg between them”. ‘That’s what it is. So, yes, of course some keepers are 6ft 6in, but they have attributes they’re not so good at. And you get slightly smaller ones who are athletically better and have different skill sets.’