Harry Kane arrived at the World Cup in red-hot form, and England fans are now seeing exactly why. The captain struck twice in England's 4-2 victory over Croatia, delivering another reminder that world-class strikers tend to make a difference on the biggest stages.
Tottenham supporters have known it for years, Thomas Tuchel has quickly realised it too, and now England fans are starting to believe that this team could genuinely go all the way with Kane leading the line.
We're not quite dusting off the "It's Coming Home" banners just yet, but Kane has matured into a world-class complete centre-forward. He no longer relies solely on goals, even if scoring them remains the task he loves to do. His movement, link-up play and leadership give England a focal point that few nations can match, and when chances fall his way, you would back him to take them.
His first goal arrived with a slice of fortune. Kane saw his initial penalty saved, only for VAR to order a retake, giving the England captain a second chance. This time, he kept his nerve and buried it, sending the ball into the same corner. His second was far more emphatic. Rising highest from a corner, Kane powered home a bullet header to restore England's lead and underline his importance to Tuchel's side.
England greatest, the best centre forward?
Harry Kane's brilliant start to the World Cup is forcing England fans into a realisation Tottenham supporters made more than a decade ago: he has always been one of the best strikers in the world.
Expectations for Kane were sky-high after he claimed the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, scoring six times during England's run to the semi-finals. However, he managed just two goals at the tournament in Qatar four years later.
By scoring twice against Croatia, Kane has now drawn level with former England and Tottenham striker Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals, the joint-highest tally by any England player in the competition's history. With at least two group games still to play, Kane now has the chance to claim the record outright and stake a claim for the best centre forward in international history for England.
Club | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Tottenham Hotspur | 435 | 280 |
Bayern Munich | 117 | 124 |
England | 115 | 81 |
Harry Kane's brilliant start to the World Cup is forcing England fans into a realisation Tottenham supporters made more than a decade ago: he has always been one of the best strikers in the world.
The narrative since his move to Bayern Munich has often suggested Kane somehow reached a new level after leaving Spurs. The reality is that Tottenham fans spent more than a decade watching him score 280 goals, win three Premier League Golden Boots and establish himself among the elite forwards of his generation long before he arrived in Germany.
While the trophy cabinet remained frustratingly empty during his time in north London, Kane never needed silverware to prove his world-class credentials. His goalscoring numbers, consistency and all-round game stood comparison with the very best in world football. Bayern may have provided the medals, but Tottenham was where Kane built the reputation that earned him a tag as one of the greatest.
Add us as a preferred source on Google