We won’t let rivalry divide us, says Kane
FOR Harry Kane and his international colleagues, the road to Wembley and the Euro 2020 finals starts here.
It is a journey that takes them via Montenegro, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Kosovo, with a brief detour to Portugal this summer, but it is one England’s captain looks forward to with relish.
Confidence is certainly high, Kane making the point yesterday that Gareth Southgate’s side were unique among the four World Cup semi-finalists in also progressing to the semi-finals of the Nations League — from a tough group, too.
But this weekend marks the beginning of a European Championship competition that offers an even greater prize; one England hope to pursue with the backing of home support on home soil.
‘We know the chance to play a Euros with most of the games at home is an amazing opportunity,’ said Kane. ‘You don’t often get that in your career so we will try to make the most of it.
‘I think we feel that expectation where people now expect us to do well. Before the World Cup there was no expectation. But I think it is great we’ve turned that round.
‘It is now down to us as players to use that experience we have had and to manage expectations.
‘We know we want to win it and we want to make fans happy and be proud. But we know there is a long way ahead.
‘It won’t be easy. Every top team is trying to improve and we saw some top nations at the World Cup, like France and Croatia, but we have to focus on ourselves.’
Competitive victories in Spain do lead to an increase in pressure. ‘I think we’ve handled it really well since the World Cup,’ said Kane. ‘I think we’re the only team who got into the semi-finals at the World Cup to have got through their Nations League group and we had probably one of the hardest groups.
‘I think that was big for us, to prove to everyone that Russia wasn’t just a one-off — that this team are really building for something special in the future.
‘Everyone handles expectation differently. We still have players who are very young and inexperienced in this squad, so we have to manage them and make sure everyone’s OK and comfortable with the situation.
The Nations League remains in England’s sights, of course. In Kane’s opinion winning ‘some silverware’ in Porto would top their progression to the last four in Russia. As Kane said, winning a trophy in an England shirt is not exactly a regular occurrence.
But it was interesting, here at St George’s Park, to hear Kane talk about how united they remain in the cause, despite the intensity of the competition that currently exists at club level.
In the past, cliques did develop in the England squad and one might imagine a return to such circumstances when four Premier League teams have progressed to the last eight of the Champions League while battling for domestic glory.
Under Southgate, however, it seems that harmony remains. Indeed, Kane said there would be no return to the bad old days of the Golden Generation. Asked if the players have to be reminded to leave club rivalries at the door, Kane said: ‘It kind of happens naturally. I think everyone looks forward to coming away with England and meeting up again. Of course you have a bit of banter about it, but everyone is on to England. That’s important.
‘When you come away, you have to give 100 per cent, so everything else is put to one side. When you go back to your club it starts up again. I think that’s been part of our success.
‘We’ve heard about things happening in the past — people sitting on different tables and teams being divided. You just can’t have that in a team. You need to be 100 per cent together.
‘Since I’ve been here it’s been good. Hendo’s getting on with Raheem and Walks with Trent. So, again, with Hendo and Raheem for example, they’ve known each other a long time. Of course they want to beat each other, but they’re not going to let that get in the way of what’s important this week, which is the international game. And I don’t need to talk to them about that.’
Even if Tottenham’s form is rather erratic, Kane is on fire right now, with 11 goals in his last 12 games. And that kind of run even had Kane dismissing the concerns expressed by Southgate last week, when England’s manager said the progress being made by English clubs in the Champions League could undermine his team’s chances in Portugal.
‘I don’t know how much it will affect it,’ said Kane. ‘ Of course, when you are at your club, you give everything in the Champions League, it’s such a big competition. Every player wants to win that.
‘Sure, it will be a quicker turnaround with less rest in the summer (if a team reaches the final) but sometimes that isn’t a bad thing because you keep yourself in rhythm and you’re ready to go.
‘ It will feel like most of the season. Two training sessions and then back into a game. I think we will be OK. As professional footballers you have to be ready. We’re getting used to it and it should be OK. Right now I feel good. Whenever I get an injury I try to use it as a positive, to try to rest the body. I’ve come back fresh.’
And ready for the next challenge, clearly.