Having failed to find the mark at Euro 2016. Will Harry Kane show the World what he is capable of at Russia 2018?
Harry is going into this tournament off the back of an exceptional season and you would expect him to be among the tournament’s top scorers.
This was the view that many English football fans and experts held going into Euro 2016:
Kane scored 28 goals from 50 games in 2015/16 so it was a fair assumption to make.
Kane didn’t score a single goal at Euro 2016. England crashed out to Iceland in the Last 16 and Kane was remembered for taking corners and not scoring goals.
2 years later and Harry Kane is going into the World Cup on the back of an even better season than he had in 2016. 41 goals from 48 games in all competitions is exceptional. Kane is truly one of Europe’s elite goal scorers.
Only an idiot or the most bitter Arsenal fan would call into question Kane’s ability. The stats are there for all to see. My concern is if Kane doesn’t hit the ground running, England will suffer another premature exit from an International Tournament.
Harry Kane’s “August Jinx” is well known among followers of the Premier League. Since his ascension to first team regular and talisman in the 2014/15. Kane has not managed to score a goal in the opening month of the season.
That may be only 3 or 4 games, but an international tournament can be over after 3 games. 4 in England’s case at Euro 2016.
The England starting 11 included 4 other Tottenham players but Kane still couldn’t find the net. A single goal in the group stages could have altered England’s destiny in a tournament where a less than inspiring Portugal side were the victors. A goal in either or the draws against Russia or Slovakia would have seen England potentially drawn against Northern Ireland. These are the subtle margins that can make a big difference at International Tournaments.
At the World Cup, Gareth Southgate must set up his team to get the most out of the attacking options at his disposal. Given the way England have set up in their last 6 games and a return of only 4 goals from said matches. I wonder if the ball will reach the likes of Kane, Sterling, Rashford and Vardy in the areas that they can do the most damage.
With Kane’s teammate Harry Winks being injured, Southgate not taking a pass master like Jack Wilshere or Jonjo Shelvey and England’s recent struggles in front of goal I ask you this question:
Will Harry Kane hit the ground running for England at Russia 2018 or will him and England suffer a similar fate to the one they suffered at Euro 2016?
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