Harry Kane has vowed to erase the ache of his World Cup heartbreak and lead England to glory at subsequent summer season’s match.
The England captain scored twice in a 5-0 win over Latvia, sealing qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The end result ensures the 32-year-old could have one other alternative on soccer’s grandest stage, 4 years after his missed penalty towards France within the 2022 quarterfinals – a second that lingered lengthy in his thoughts.
That miss stays one of many few low factors in an in any other case glittering profession. Since then, the Bayern Munich striker has develop into England’s all-time high scorer, transferring to 76 worldwide objectives together with his brace in Riga, and he now has his sights set on reaching 100.
“I’d say that was in all probability the worst that I felt in any second,” he stated. “Clearly I’ve misplaced finals earlier than.
“To have that accountability, you nearly really feel prefer it fell on my shoulders and I suppose not having the ability to execute one thing that I’ve been in a position to execute many a time in my profession, I feel that was the toughest half to course of and take.
“I don’t give it some thought an excessive amount of now. After one other main match, you recover from it and get on with it. I scored a penalty within the semifinal of the Euros which was as excessive stress as you’re going to get.
“By way of that being my final reminiscence [of a World Cup], yeah, I’m wanting ahead to the subsequent World Cup to attempt to put that proper, to attempt to go additional. To attempt to elevate the trophy as all of us dream of doing.
“And the chance is at all times there when that’s coming round. I feel these moments solely form you as an individual, as a participant and it’s positively helped me to develop into a greater participant.”
Kane within the type of his life
Kane’s type since that disappointment has been distinctive. With 21 objectives in 13 appearances this season for membership and nation, he believes he’s enjoying one of the best soccer of his profession.
“I feel it’s there. The best way I’m feeling proper now, I’m not slowing down any time quickly,” he stated.
“I wish to keep at this degree for so long as I can. I’m on 76 now in order that leaves 24 and now we have a couple of extra video games between now and the World Cup after which attempt to edge nearer to that 100.
“The objectives are there and the numbers converse for themselves. The best way I really feel on the pitch, the best way I’m seeing the sport, bodily and with out the ball, urgent, I really feel in a extremely good place.”
Having led England to a World Cup semifinal and back-to-back European Championship finals underneath Gareth Southgate, Kane believes the workforce has constructed the expertise and mentality wanted to problem once more.
“We’ve been knocking on the door, but it surely doesn’t simply occur in a single day,” he added. “You’ve obtained to maintain being in these conditions and we’ve finished that.
“There’s at all times pleasure main as much as a significant match, we’ll be excited for certain.
“However we all know we’re simply on the backside of the mountain nonetheless. To win a World Cup goes to be extremely laborious.
“We’ll must beat the largest groups on the largest stage and these moments, these emotions we’ve obtained collectively proper now are essential stepping stones to arriving in the summertime and being fearless towards anybody.”
