Harry Kane has eclipsed Wayne Rooney to turn into England‘s all-time high purpose scorer, however he’s nonetheless battling to keep away from the identical destiny as his predecessor.
Rooney was among the many first to congratulate the 29-year-old striker after his record-breaking 54th purpose in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Italy, a second that has been inevitable for a while given Kane’s efficiency but was no much less historic when it lastly arrived.
The chase additional intertwined two gamers whose connection dates again to March 2015, when Kane changed Rooney for his debut in a European Championship qualifier towards Lithuania at Wembley. Rooney had already scored; Kane took 79 seconds to hit the web himself. Later that 12 months, Rooney beat Sir Bobby Charlton’s 45-year report (49 targets) and was introduced with a golden boot by Charlton. Afterwards, he gave a speech within the dressing room.
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“I mentioned that I hoped the younger gamers within the squad would come near the report themselves and even be capable of surpass me.” Rooney advised The Occasions on Friday. “Harry had scored solely three England targets at that time, however I mentioned these phrases as a result of I knew he might do it. Even then, with solely 4 caps below his belt, I knew he might turn into England’s biggest scorer if he saved going the best way he was and I needed to provide him encouragement.”
Rooney has been readily available ever since to supply Kane steering and recommendation, however his England profession additionally serves as a warning. He scored his record-setting 53rd and closing worldwide purpose in England’s humiliating Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland — the chasm between particular person and collective achievement by no means wider within the striker’s lifetime.
Rooney scored simply as soon as in three World Cups, by no means in a position to produce his devastating greatest on the most important stage and without end residing within the shadow of his teenage self who burst onto the scene at Euro 2004 with such power earlier than his metatarsal harm and a penalty shootout ended England’s hopes within the quarterfinals towards Portugal.
His remorse over by no means profitable something along with his nation is replicated by most of the so-called “Golden Era” of which he is part. Kane will recognise that ache, too, particularly having additionally been on the pitch when England misplaced to Iceland seven years in the past. He already holds the report for many England targets at a match finals (12) however what drives him now’s silverware.
At the least Rooney had an illustrious membership profession at Manchester United to console him, ending his profession with 5 Premier League titles, three League Cups, and one FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League and FIFA Membership World Cup. In addition to the all-time scoring report for United (253 targets in 559 video games). Kane is now the all-time high purpose scorer for Tottenham (just lately surpassing Jimmy Greaves with 267 targets in 416 video games) and England, however though he’s a World Cup Golden Boot winner, he doesn’t possess a solitary group trophy to indicate for it.
England’s palpable progress below Gareth Southgate — reaching the 2018 World Cup semifinals and Euro 2020 closing — has created a way that they’ve by no means been nearer to ending a 57-year look ahead to a serious honour, even accounting for the effective margins of match soccer. However they must take these final steps to grasp that potential at Euro 2024.
That job is clearly not solely inside Kane’s grasp, so, for now, all he can do is hold main by instance. He would, in fact, have most popular to interrupt Rooney’s report by changing that now-infamous second penalty in England’s 2022 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France, however there was at the least some poetic justice in reaching the milestone from one other spot-kick in Naples on Thursday.
No one can severely query his mentality today, however Kane’s willpower to set the tone firstly of Euro 2024 qualification led to an outstanding all-round show towards Italy and a fillip for Southgate as he seems to be to rally the troops for his fourth match cycle. Beating their Euro 2020 conquerors Italy away from residence for the primary time since 1961 is one other step in the direction of England breaking down the long-standing inferiority advanced that has inhibited them towards high opposition.
Kane is a whole centre-forward, and with 19-year-old Jude Bellingham making thrilling strides to inject much-needed dynamism in central midfield, England are edging in the direction of changing into a whole group. Points stay, nonetheless. Centre-back continues to look an space of weak spot, and the second-half wobble towards Italy was a reminder that an issue of surrendering the initiative nonetheless exists. However qualification already seems to be a better proposition now the hardest Group C fixture is received and there may be time to fine-tune their method.
Sunday’s go to of Ukraine, earlier than which Kane will probably be introduced with a memento marking his goal-scoring achievement, represents a superb probability to ascertain a dominant place. England are a younger facet, however Kane turns 30 this 12 months. A mannequin skilled in elite bodily situation, his profession will certainly endure on the highest stage for years to come back, however Kane’s time is now; Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup are clear targets.
Kane performed in an excellent Tottenham facet for 5 years below Mauricio Pochettino and received nothing. It might rankle without end if the identical destiny awaited him for England. Simply ask Rooney.