Harry Kane has helped England secure qualification for next summer’s World Cup and the striker is already thinking about what he will use as motivation for potential glory.
Harry Kane admits the worst moment of his life fueled his dreams of World Cup glory. Three years ago, Kane missed his final penalty in the quarter-final loss to France, but had he scored, it would have tied the score and sent extra time.
Since then, Kane has become obsessed with honing his penalty-taking skills, taking the next 31 spot-kicks, but that alone shows how disappointed he is.
And Kane, 32, is weighed down by that heartbreak ahead of next summer, when he will lead Thomas Tuchel’s England to the United States and once again carry the hopes of his people.
Kane said: “That was probably the worst thing I’ve ever felt. Obviously, I’ve lost in finals before, and having that responsibility almost feels like it’s on my shoulders, and I think that’s probably why I didn’t do what I’ve been able to do so many times in my career.”
“I think that was the hardest part to process and accept. But as always as a sportsman, when you put yourself in a situation like that, there are going to be moments where things don’t go your way.
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“But yeah, I think what I learned from that, it motivated me to get even better and improve, not just from the penalty side in terms of improving my technique, but as an all-round player.
“After a big tournament, you just get over it and move on. I scored a penalty in the Euro semi-final, which was as much pressure as there was pressure. I always try to learn from those moments.”
“After that penalty, I think I made it to 31 without making a mistake. So I changed my technique a little bit and was proud of myself for growing in that sense. And that’s what I always strive for and do.”
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“In the sense that it’s the last memory (of the World Cup), yeah, I’m looking forward to the next World Cup and trying to put it right and go further and try and lift the trophy like we all dream of doing.”
“And whenever that opportunity comes, it’s always an opportunity. I think those moments are what shape you as a person and as a player, and it’s definitely helped me become a better player.”
“I want to help England get back there. I’ve been lucky enough to go to two World Cups so far, but I think they’re the best competitions to be in.”
“I talked to some of the players here and the guys who haven’t experienced it yet and tried to tell them how excited they should be and that it’s a great thing to look forward to.
“And for me, it’s about using that experience to try to help other young people, and for them it’s just about going full throttle and enjoying the experience.”
Kane now has 76 goals in 110 caps, with his double against Latvia helping England become the first European team to reach next summer’s finals.
There is a clear bond between captain and manager and it stems from mutual respect, as Tuchel signed Kane at Bayern Munich and sought to do the same when he was Chelsea manager.
Now they’re heading to the World Cup together, and Kane admits that winning the greatest prize of all was always his childhood dream above everything else – and this time there’s real belief that they can achieve it.
Kane added: “It’s no secret that I’ve been a huge England fan since I was little. Every time there was a World Cup, I looked forward to being a fan and celebrating goals in the pub.”
“Obviously now I’m part of one of the most successful periods as a team. To reach two major finals in the World Cup, the semi-finals and the quarter-finals, is incredible. We’ve been knocking on the door.
“But we know that we are still at the foot of the mountain. It will be incredibly difficult to win the World Cup. But we are in a great moment.”
“We have to beat the biggest team on the biggest stage. This moment, this feeling we have right now, is an important stepping stone to arrive in the summer and compete without fear against anyone.”
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