Thomas Tuchel, England manager, dey tire for press conference because every journalist dey ask am about Harry Kane. Whether na before Norway match or any other game, di question always come: tell us about Kane. Tuchel talk say, “We speak every match about him as he decides all the matches for us. I’m running out of words and different ways to describe him. He’s our leader. He’s our captain. He leads by example. He’s in the shape of his life and in the highest peak of his career. He has the mindset of a team player. He’s ready to lead by example and to push everybody. He’s ready to take responsibility and to perform, and to help us. It’s a privilege to have him as captain and to be his coach.”
Kane don captain England for di last five major tournaments. On Wednesday night, im go lead England out for World Cup semifinal for di second time. When Gareth Southgate pick am as captain for 2018 World Cup, e be contentious call. Kane no be di typical England captain wey dey shout and show bulldog spirit. Im be goal scorer, England best player, but politely spoken and thoughtful. Di role of England captain don change over time. According to Paul Hayward for “England Football – The Biography,” di English fixation with armbands and clenched fists be twentieth-century phenomenon. For nineteenth century, captaincy na honor without military leadership.
Before Kane lead England against Croatia for 2018 World Cup semifinal, di previous two men captains to get such honor na Bobby Moore and Terry Butcher. Moore immortalized by 1966, Queen Elizabeth II hand to receive Jules Rimet Trophy. Sir Alf Ramsey talk of Moore, “My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team. A cool, calculating footballer I could trust with my life.” For 1990, Bryan Robson na skipper, but injury make Terry Butcher lead dem out against West Germany. Butcher describe im style as “tin hats and fixed bayonets.”
Southgate for 2018 World Cup consider Kane, Gary Cahill, and Jordan Henderson. Henderson na obvious pick but e dey struggle for fitness. Southgate go for Kane after Kane impress for team bonding with Royal Marines. Southgate talk, “Harry has some outstanding personal qualities. He is a meticulous professional, and one of the most important things for a captain is that they set the standard every day.” Southgate write for im book how Kane grow into role, find im voice, and even stand up to Southgate.
Former England defender Eric Dier talk, “The way he carries himself, the way he works, the way he trains, the way you see him in games I think are all the attributes you need to be a good captain.” Kane lead by example, no need Churchillian speeches. Thomas Müller, im former Bayern Munich teammate, say, “He’s someone who likes to take on responsibility.” Bukayo Saka talk of Kane, “Harry Kane put his arm around me. He spoke to me and asked me how I was. For him to do that, it helped me settle in much quicker.”
E no always straightforward for Kane. Im carry back injury through Euro 2024 and form suffer. Southgate talk after Spain defeat, “Physically, it’s been a tough period for him. He came in short of games, and he’s not quite up to the level that we’d all have hoped.” Since Southgate leave, Kane captain England for every match im start. For dis World Cup, Kane and Jude Bellingham don be di show. Kane score 61 goals for 51 games for Bayern Munich before tournament. Im score two against Croatia, one against Panama, two against Congo DR, and penalty against Mexico. Im dey chase Golden Boot and Ballon d’Or.
Players call am “Skip,” though Jordan Pickford stretch am to “Skipdog.” Bellingham talk after Panama game, “It is an honor to play with him. For me, he is the best England player of all time.” Anthony Gordon call am “the best to ever wear an England shirt.” Rice say im go tell im pikin one day say im lucky to play with Kane. Kane imself write for November 2024 about im leadership philosophy, humble and paying tribute to captains like Rooney, Lloris, Neuer, Kimmich, Müller, and Beckham.
England legend Sir Geoff Hurst don crown Kane as greatest striker in nation history, as Three Lions prepare for World Cup semifinal against Argentina. Di 1966 hat-trick hero believe Kane don surpass all wey come before am. Harry Kane don cement im legacy as one of greatest strikers for modern football. Im be England all-time top scorer with 85 goals, including Golden Boot for 2018. England enter tournament with task to break trophy drought since 1966. Im start campaign with brace against Croatia, score against Panama, then two goals against Congo DR, and goal and assist against Mexico. Im no get goal contribution against Norway but im leadership crucial for 2-1 win.
England go face Argentina for July 16 at Atlanta Stadium for Georgia, USA. For 2018 World Cup semifinal against Croatia, Kane miss chance wey hit post, and England lose 2-1 for extra time. Now, im go lead again. Marc Guéhi sum up Kane as captain: “He just leads by example. He’s someone who’s always calm, someone who’s always relaxed. His quality speaks for itself. He’s always keeping everyone else calm as well. When you have someone like Harry, it just makes things easier.”
