Gareth Southgate admitted it would be “particularly sad” if Harry Kane were to become England’s all-time top scorer inside an empty stadium.
Kane’s winning goal from the penalty spot in a friendly against Switzerland on Saturday evening moved him above Gary Lineker and level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 goals, and joint-second in England’s list of all-time goalscorers.
The Tottenham striker reached the figure in an astonishing 68 matches, while Charlton’s 49 came in 106 England games.
Kane, 28, is now only four goals behind England’s leading all-time scorer Wayne Rooney, who struck 53 in 120 games before retiring in 2018, and is virtually certain to break the record.
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But with two of England’s next four games forced to be played behind closed doors due to punishments for fan behaviour, it could mean that Kane scores the record-breaking goal in an empty stadium.
England play Ivory Coast in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday, although Kane is expected to be used sparingly with Southgate mindful that he played for 89 minutes on Saturday, and many of his players are reaching the latter stages of the season when workload needs to be managed.
England’s opening Nations League game away to Hungary in early June will be without supporters as a punishment for racism and hooliganism from Hungary’s fans during Euro 2020.
Southgate’s side will travel to Germany and play under normal conditions, but the following Nations League match against Italy in England will also be behind closed doors after England were sanctioned for the chaotic and dangerous behaviour of supporters at Wembley during the Euro 2020 final last summer.
England’s top 10 goalscorers of all-time
- 1. Wayne Rooney: 53 goals, 120 caps
- 2. Bobby Charlton: 49 goals, 106 caps
- = Harry Kane: 49 goals, 68 caps
- 4. Gary Lineker: 48 goals, 80 caps
- 5. Jimmy Greaves: 44 goals, 57 caps
- 6. Michael Owen: 40 goals, 89 caps
- 7. Nat Lofthouse: 30 goals, 33 caps
- = Alan Shearer: 30 goals, 63 caps
- = Tom Finney: 30 goals, 76 caps
- 10. Vivian Woodward: 23 goals, 29 caps
“I don’t think [Kane] will worry where he is playing in terms of the opportunity to break the record,” Southgate said. “Of course, it would be lovely if it was at Wembley, and if it was in the World Cup final it would be absolutely fine!
“But that would be hugely unfortunate [if it happened in an empty stadium]. The games behind closed doors, frankly we have seen and had enough of them, but for both countries it is a punishment because our fans and their fans weren’t able to control themselves. That’s an embarrassment for us, but it is the situation we have got. It would be particularly sad if that was the game where Harry broke the record.”
Southgate suggested that Kane will be rested for at least some of the Ivory Coast friendly.
“We want to keep all of the squad involved and we think that’s very important,” he said. “Also all of the players are in a part of the season where they’re coming in off a heavy load of games and are going back into important games, so this is one of those occasions when it works for us and the clubs when it comes to sharing the load.
“We need to find out about players and we still can bring players from the bench and want to keep going on a positive run of results as well.”
Meanwhile, Southgate believes midfielder Declan Rice has “all the attributes” to become an England captain. Rice, 23, formed a superb partnership with Kalvin Phillips in a central midfield pair that was pivotal in England’s journey to the European Championship final last summer.
And his impact was felt again against Switzerland when he came on as a substitute — starting on the bench while Southgate experimented with options — and finally enabled England to get a grip on the game.
Rice is already West Ham’s captain and joins several Premier League club skippers in the England squad. Harry Maguire is Manchester United captain and Jordan Henderson wears Liverpool’s armband.
“We were looking at two possible teams for these games and we now have more and more club captains actually involved in the fray,” Southgate said.
“[Rice] is right amongst that despite his age. What I have seen this season is the confidence that he has gained from his experience last summer.
“I think he had a huge impact [against Switzerland] on the game when he came on. A really mature performance, strong, breaks the game up so well, but now has more confidence to drive with the ball and bring it forward as well.
“Without a doubt he has all the attributes to be a captain. There will be others, but we are gaining the rewards of the opportunities we had to blood him so young.
“The initial Nations League campaign and playing against the Dutch in the semi-final of that. They were the biggest games of his life at that time. He is now getting European experience with his club as well and all of those things are starting to come together.”
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