Alderweireld is vowing to get tough to silence Kane
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD knows Harry Kane’s strengths, but the Belgium centre-half admits it will be difficult to stop England’s hat-trick hero in Thursday’s Group G decider.
Kane scored a fortuitous treble — via two thumping penalties and a lucky deflection — in England’s 6-1 win against Panama yesterday to make it five goals in two World Cup matches and take him to the top of the standings in the race for the Golden Boot.
Gareth Southgate has already hinted he i s u n l i ke l y to rest the i n-fo r m Tottenham striker, who was replaced by Jamie Vardy for the final 30 minutes yesterday.
Kane could, therefore, go head-tohead with Spurs team-mates Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, who should know him better than most players in the tournament.
“Hopefully, it’s an advantage for the defenders,” Alderweireld told Standard Sport.
“I know his strength, of course. But his strength is that he’s good at everything. He’s quick, he’s strong, left foot, right foot, headers.
“It’s so difficult to stop him. That’s what I know. As a team, we have to be tough [in order] to beat him.
“He just breathes football. He wants to improve, improve, improve.
“He’s not only a goalscorer, he works so hard for the team. He’s available to help the plays. He’s the all-round striker.”
The England captain has not been shy of measuring himself against Cristiano Ronaldo — who has scored four goals in the tournament so far a h e a d o f Po r t u g a l ’s final g ro u p g a me a g a i n s t Iran tonight — and Alderweireld says the Real Madrid star inspires his club-mate to new heights.
“It’s because he [Kane] wants to be up there,” Alderweireld said. “And for me he is already up there. He’s one of the best. He’s shown it now for a couple of ye a rs . He ’s s o yo u n g a s we l l , a n d Ronaldo gives him motivation to be on another level.”
Belgium’s players did not have a chance to watch England’s last-ditch 2-1 win against Tunisia but they were impressed by their comfortable victory over Panama.
Alderweireld says Southgate’s quiet revolution has not gone unnoticed but insists Belgium’s more experienced golden generation has the same desire as England’s young squad.
He added: “In Belgium, we say [about England that] there’s a new wind coming. England have fresh, young players.
“They play for the biggest clubs in England but t h ey ’ re ve r y h u n g r y and humble as well. There’s a good vibe going on in England.
“We have the same hunger. We know we have to take some steps to become a special team. We’re not thinking we’re there. We stay calm and try to improve as a team.”
Alderweireld is expected to l e a ve To t t e n h a m a f t e r the World Cup but he says he has put all discussions about his future on hold until after the tournament.
“It’s not hard to focus only on Belgium when you’re at a World Cup,” said the 29-year-old centre-half, who is a target for Manchester United.