England striker Harry Kane was interviewed by The Independent during the upcoming UEFA Europa League B second-round match against Finland at 2:45 a.m. BST on September 11th. As a player who is about to reach the milestone of 100 games for the national team, Kane shared his goals in the England team, his growth experience and his expectations for the future.
Goal 100 milestone
Kane has now scored 66 goals for England and is just 34 goals short of the 100-goal milestone. He said: "The goals are here, I feel I'm in great shape and these are goals worth working towards. Some people may think the goal is unrealistic, but I'd rather pursue something unrealistic than give up on my goals altogether." Kane's confidence and determination gives one a lot of faith in him to achieve this goal.
Use questioning as motivation
Speaking about the doubts he has encountered in his career, Kane said, "In fact, probably throughout my career there have been people who have questioned me. From the age of eight when I was expelled from Arsenal, I had the desire to prove people wrong. Even in the early days at Tottenham, I was nearly fired. That questioning motivated me to get better and helped me stay consistent." He mentioned rugby legend Tom Brady as his inspiration, emphasizing the importance of constantly proving yourself throughout your career.
Important coaches in the youth training period
Kane met Bradley Allen, a coach who had a profound impact on him while at Tottenham's youth academy. He recalls, "Bradley Allen was instrumental in changing me and I trained a lot with him when I was at U15. He helped me work on one-touch shooting and back-footing, skills that also made me a role model for a lot of younger players." Kane still enjoys practicing his shooting on the pitch and considers it a source of joy.
Adapting to soccer development trends
On the changing role of the striker in modern soccer, Kane said, "Maybe it's just the way soccer is going - players being able to get into different areas. The pure number nine may return, but players like Harland have proved that strikers in different positions can be hugely successful. Watching some of the best wingers in the world inspire young players to become that type of player."
Post-Euro persistence
Despite questions about Kane's fitness at Euro 2024, he insists he is still in good shape and plans to continue playing for England. He cited the example of his predecessors such as Crowe as proof that players can maintain a high level of athleticism for a long time.
Looking back at debut moments
Finally, Kane recalled his England debut under Hodgson in 2015. He said, "I remember the ball didn't go out of bounds for about four or five minutes and I was thinking, someone make a foul! A few minutes after coming on I scored, it was the perfect start that I could never have dreamed of."
Kane's interview shows his confidence, resilience and humility as a top striker. In the face of doubts and challenges, he has always maintained his love and pursuit of soccer, setting an example for the fans.
