Ahead of the Euro final against Spain, England captain Kane spoke to UEFA to share his thoughts on team spirit, teammate performances, and personal accolades.
Kane could not hide his excitement when talking about Watkins' killer goal in the semifinals. He said that he was almost the first time from the bench rushed out, and Watkins embraced tightly, and expressed heartfelt praise and encouragement to him. Kane confessed that he may have forgotten exactly what he said at the time, but that recognition and affirmation of Watkins' performance was undeniable. He believes that Watkins waiting for his chance in a not-so-easy substitute role, and finally being able to come on and take advantage of his opportunity to pull off the shutout in such a great way was not only a testament to Watkins' individual abilities, but also a huge inspiration and accomplishment for the entire team.
Kane further emphasized the importance of teamwork. He said that the meaning of a team lies in the fact that everyone strives in the same direction and everyone works hard to achieve the same goal. In this process, there is no personal self-interest or strife, only the desire to win and trust in teammates. Kane has always been committed to setting an example and striving to be that leader who puts the team first, because he knows that the power of the team is infinite, and that only by working together can we go further.
Kane showed maturity and humility when asked about the race for the Golden Boot. He said that at this point in the tournament, individual honors have become less important. He is more eager to lead his team to win the championship than a personal award like the Golden Boot. Of course, as a striker, he still wants to score goals and contribute to the team's victory. But if other teammates can score goals and help the team to win the game, he will also feel very happy and satisfied. Because in his opinion, victory is the ultimate pursuit, and personal honor is only a part of it.
Finally, Kane re-emphasized the importance of the team. He said that no matter how many minutes a player plays in a game, as long as everyone works hard for the same goal, then when the team wins the game, everyone will celebrate together and share the joy. This spirit of unity and common struggle is the most valuable asset of the England team.
