Kane keeping an eye on the biggest prize
World Cup would cap it all says Harry
ONLY a fool would bet against Harry Kane, but even the England captain might struggle with this one. ‘I guess the ideal career would be a World Cup, a Super Bowl and maybe a Masters green jacket,’ quipped Kane yesterday.
He was joking, but when it comes to Kane and reaching his targets you can never be completely sure. It is an obsession for him.
The next one on the striker’s checklist is becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer.
It is not inconceivable to think Kane could achieve that feat by the end of the summer — the 28-year-old is on 49, just four behind Wayne Rooney’s 53.
Five goals from four games, Kane is more than capable of that.
Yet even if the Tottenham forward comes up short this summer, that will merely delay the inevitable. Kane will not just break Rooney’s record, he will surely obliterate it.
For now, ahead of today’s Nations League opener against Hungary, Kane has Bobby Charlton in his sights. One goal will see him chalk up a half-century of international goals to move second outright in the all-time list.
The fact that tonight’s match in Budapest will be played in front of a half-empty stadium, coupled with the fact that England’s game against Italy at Molineux next week will also be subject to UEFA stadium sanctions, means Kane could overtake Rooney in front of only a handful of spectators. That would be a shame.
‘When it comes to breaking records or achievements like that, of course you would love the perfect scenario with thousands of fans and your friends and family there,’ said Kane. ‘Sometimes it works out that way and you are lucky to experience that. But also sometimes things don’t pan out the way you want.
‘My first thought is winning the games. If I am lucky enough to break the record in this or the next camp, of course I would love my friends and family to be there and a full crowd at home.
‘That would be a perfect situation but in life and in football you can’t control everything.
‘Of course I think it would be an incredible achievement. I was lucky enough to be on the pitch — and actually scored — when Wayne broke the record himself.
‘I saw how much it meant to him and his family. I did not really think that far ahead at that stage.
‘But to be where I am now, four goals behind Wayne with plenty of games this year, it would be an incredible achievement.
‘Whenever you are in among the names of Rooney and Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton and players like that you are doing something worthwhile. But I am focused on trying to help the team. I always feel if I am doing my best for the team, the goals will come.’
Yet, you wonder if Kane would sacrifice all those goalscoring accolades for a winner’s medal.
It is staggering to think that a footballer as highly acclaimed as him has yet to win a single team honour as a player. It grates on Kane.
That is why he tried to leave Spurs for Manchester City a year ago. And although he seems more content at Tottenham following the appointment of Antonio Conte and qualifying for the Champions League, it would be understandable if last year’s yearning for trophies was reignited as he watched City retain the Premier League title last month.
‘I feel confident, I feel free,’ said Kane. ‘We had a good finish to the season as a team and I had a good season personally. It has been a tough season, a long season, with a lot of ups and downs.
‘My main focus now is finishing strongly with England and having a nice break with my family.’
But back to that green jacket and Super Bowl ring, Harry.
‘Football is my first thought always and it is what has got me to where I am now,’ added the Three Lions skipper. ‘I would love to win the World Cup. It is my next opportunity to win a trophy, so I’m really looking forward to that. ‘The last two tournaments have been good. We have come really close to creating history that will last for ever.’
● PHIL FODEN will miss tonight’s match and Tuesday’s game in Germany with Covid. Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori will not feature in Budapest because of injury and Raheem Sterling is a doubt due to illness. James Justin and Jarrod Bowen could be handed their debuts. Trent AlexanderArnold hopes to start at right wing-back.