TALKING POINT

THREE GAMES, nine goals and a place in the knockout stages.

Don’t forget Harry Kane, though. The England captain won’t let you.

Yes, in a World Cup where Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Cristiano Ronaldo all appear in the goalscoring list, it is strange not to see Kane’s name alongside them just yet. It is even more remarkable that, in this ruthless romp here at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Tottenham’s coveted marksman didn’t get weighed in.

Normally, he is the guy you’d read about first on the back page before you turn inside.

Normally, he is the guy who is trending on social media during and after matches because of his devastating impact in front of goal.

He won’t admit it, of course, but he’d have seen all three games in this group as a great chance to boost his claims for a second World Cup Golden Boot.

Especially with such a superb supporting Three Lions cast, squeezing the life out of lesser opposition as an England team should.

But check this: Kane’s three assists here against Wales mean he is the first England player to set up three goals at a single World Cup since David Beckham in 2002. Check this out too: So far in this tournament, no other player has set up more goals.

It is what makes Kane such a leader, such an influence on any game he takes part in and the first name on the team sheet.

He would actually have had four assists had Wales keeper Danny Ward not made himself big to deny Rashford as early as the ninth minute.

Only fools now continue to deny Kane’s status as a killer in front of goal and a creator for