A World Cup quarter-final this was not, but a successful penalty thumped to the side of Gianluigi Donnarumma 103 days after his last attempt for England soared in Al Khor, provided a redemption, of sorts, for Harry Kane.
It was Kane’s 54th goal for his country; no English player, male or female, has more in the history of the national team. In the space of 46 days, Kane has achieved record-breaking immortality for club and country, surpassing two of the greats in the late Sir Jimmy Greaves and Wayne Rooney to get there. Two records Kane had in his sights have tumbled one after the other. Tottenham’s annual meltdown aside, 2023 has been a profitable one for Kane so far. Next up: Alan Shearer’s Premier League record, 204 down, 56 to go.
The celebration followed the usual four-step routine: 1) kiss the wedding band, 2) jog to the corner flag, 3) spring off the floor as though assisted by an invisible trampoline, 4) swing the right hand forward purposefully like a malfunctioning robot. Only this time, it was different. There was raw emotion plastered all over Kane’s face as he savoured a career-defining moment, a mixture of joy and ecstasy. And palpable, unmistakable relief. Every goal is equal, but some goals are more equal than others.
Kane admitted after England’s World Cup exit against France that the penalty miss six minutes from time would haunt him for the rest of his career. Sleepless nights no doubt followed, but as much as one can on a Thursday night in Naples, he would have nodded straight off after settling down for the night in his hotel room. The penalty curse has been lifted at the first attempt.
RECORD BREAKER
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) March 23, 2023
Harry Kane is @England's all time top scorer#C4Football | #ThreeLions | #ITAENG pic.twitter.com/ElfwtCYocu
“It means everything,” Kane told Channel 4 after the final whistle. “I was so excited to put the England shirt on and get back out here and get the campaign started for the Euros next year
“It had to be a penalty of course and once it hit the back of the net… huge emotion. Huge thanks to all the players, the staff, the fans, my wife, my family back home, everyone who has helped me get to this stage. Just a magical moment.”
He added: “I worked hard in training yesterday, picked my spot and thankfully put it away so just a great night. We haven’t won in Italy for so long and to score and win this game is just special.”
It was a re-enactment of David Beckham’s own Hollywood moment against Argentina in Sapporo 21 years ago. An east London boy, Beckham was an obvious inspiration for Kane and he has ended up following a similar career path, going from Ridgeway Rovers in Chingford, to Premier League superstar to captain of his country. And like Beckham, he hit rock bottom on the world stage, only to rise again with a redemptive kick from 12 yards.
Rooney was quick to salute his former team-mate from Washington DC, tweeting: “Congratulations to Harry Kane on becoming England’s all-time leading goalscorer. I knew it wouldn’t take long but that was quick. Great man, unbelievable goalscorer and an England legend. Congrats Harry.”
Kane returned the admiration, saying: “I was on the pitch when Wayne broke the record and I know what it meant to him and was so proud of him.
“I remember when I presented him the boot for breaking the record he said I’ll be giving this back to you one day and yeah just a special guy and an England legend himself so to hear that is fantastic.”
With trophies still eluding him, Kane’s brilliance is defined by the numbers, but he provides so much more than just goals to the teams he represented. Moments after his record-breaking strike, Kane should have added an assist, serving the ball on a plate to Jack Grealish who inexplicably skewed a volley horribly wide of the far post as the goal yawned in front of him.
Kane’s best work comes in the penalty area, but other aspects of his game are just as polished as the ruthless finishes and precision passes. England should have had the win sealed by half-time, but Grealish’s miss offered the Italians some much-needed encouragement. The visitors were forced to dig deep after the break even more so after Luke Shaw’s late sending-off.
From spending the first half facing Italy’s goal with Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham speeding past him in support, Kane had his back to goal throughout the second. It was a dogged, thankless task but necessary to help England grind out three points and start their Euro 2024 campaign with a successful revenge mission against the side that quashed their dreams in a sodden Wembley in 2021.
Play with the intensity and fervour of their opening period here and England will cause any team on the continent problems. And perhaps by next summer, Kane will win a trophy that his goals and records deserve.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/5AuyaIl
Post a Comment