Kane Target-man raises the bar as he chases 100 goals for England

ON THE eve of the landmark 100th cap that, with more of the recent England spotlight on the dugout than the pitch, has rather crept up on us all, Harry Kane played the hits at a press conference held, fittingly, at Tottenham’s training ground yesterday.

- Malik Ouzia

He talked of the hunger that still comes so easily, given that, at the age of 31, a maiden major trophy remains elusive. He had another pop at the press and pundits who had questioned his fitness throughout a laboured Euro 2024. He cited Tom Brady, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as familiar idols in the strive for longevity. And at the place where it all began, he recalled the story of how for a long time it looked like it wouldn’t.

Kane will, tonight against Finland at Wembley, become the 10th Englishman to play 100 internationals and surely, given the regard in which the previous nine were held as teen prodigies, the least likely so far.

In terms of the statistics and the charts, the smart money from here is that he will go past them all, to finish his career not only as England’s most prolific footballer, but as its record appearance-maker as well, albeit with the caveat that the international game moves fast.