S
SEARCH
M
SW
Collect News Data

Harry Kane: 'England are in a better place now than in 2018'

:Headline: Harry Kane: 'England are in a better place now than in 2018':
Harry Kane was top goalscorer as England reached the World Cup semi-finals in Moscow in 2018.
Sports Mole

Harry Kane insists England are in a better position heading into the European Championship than they were for their run to the 2018 World Cup semi-final.

The Three Lions begin their Euro 2020 campaign against Group D rivals Croatia at Wembley on Sunday.

The same opponents ended England's World Cup hopes three years ago but both squads have changed since.

Captain Kane, who won the golden boot in Russia, feels England are now better suited for tournament football having gained more experience for club and country since their agonising exit in Moscow.

Kane was part of the England team which lost to Croatia at the 2018 World Cup. (Aaron Chown/PA)

"I'd say so," the Tottenham striker told the Official England Podcast when asked if the squad is stronger than in 2018.

"We're probably in a better place. Going into that World Cup, we maybe weren't sure where we were as a team, but we performed really well and stepped up to the occasion.

"I feel like now we've had a bit more experience, players in the biggest games for their club and obviously players who have played in that World Cup have had that experience as well.

"I feel like we are in a good place. We know there is still a lot of hard work that goes into it.

“There's a bit more pressure on us this year than there was going into that World Cup so we just have to take it in our stride.”
- Harry Kane

"We don't just turn up and win the tournament. We haven't won a tournament as a country for a long, long time, so there needs to be a lot of good mentality along the whole way as it is a long, tough journey to get to the later stages of a major tournament.

"Obviously there's a bit more pressure on us this year than there was going into that World Cup, so we just have to take it in our stride and look forward to the challenge."

The likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Jadon Sancho will be experiencing international tournament football for the first time.

Kane is now an elder statesmen of a 26-man squad that has just three players over the age of 30 and he believes the depth of talent and the balance in experience levels gives England a good chance.

"I'm only 27 years old, but I feel like one of the older ones and I am one of the older ones in the team," he added.

"We have a great balance and we know we have a long way to go with a lot of hard work between now and, hopefully, the end of the tournament, so we'll do all we can in this preparation stage.

"Everyone gets on really well and the group is great. We've got a great balance between young and experienced players.

"We've got players who have been playing in the best games, the biggest games, cup finals and we have a great team.

Jack Grealish has impressed in England's two Euro 2020 warm-up fixtures. (Nick Potts/PA)

"To be one of the best teams in the tournament, you have to have great depth in positions and that's what we have got.

"We have a lot of competition for places and, as a striker, there are so many creative players who set me up and it's a joy to play in."

Kane sat out the final warm-up friendly as Marcus Rashford's penalty earned a 1-0 win over Romania in Middlesbrough.

The squad will reconvene at St George's Park to prepare for the Croatia game, with Kane already planning how to spend his down-time.

Kane will spend his downtime watching Kit Harington and the rest of the cast of Game of Thrones (Liam McBurney/PA)

"We've got a cricket pitch and we might get a bit of golf in, but it's more around the hotel," he said.

"Boys will be playing PlayStation and things like that, but I've just started Game of Thrones, believe it or not.

"I've got a nice little period to finish that off and it'll be finished before the end of the tournament.

"World Cup I was (playing PlayStation), but I've got three kids now, so I struggle to find the time. I might take it and have the odd game of Fortnite, but not as much as I used to."

body check tags ::

amp_article__450511 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-07 12:00:36:
html db last update - 2021-06-07 11:16:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Harry Kane

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Sam Johnstone using England duty to forget West Brom relegation
Man Utd, Man City ready to move for Declan Rice?
Juventus 'join race for Harry Kane'
How Croatia could line up against England
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38275683325186
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd382111673442974
3Liverpool38209968422669
4Chelsea381910958362267
5Leicester CityLeicester382061268501866
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham381981162471565
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs381881268452362
8Arsenal381871355391661
9Leeds UnitedLeeds38185156254859
10Everton38178134748-159
11Aston Villa38167155546955
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174662-1645
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38129173652-1645
14Crystal Palace38128184166-2544
15Southampton38127194768-2143
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914154046-641
17Burnley38109193355-2239
RFulham38513202753-2628
RWest Bromwich AlbionWest Brom38511223576-4126
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3872292063-4323
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Primeira Liga Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CSporting Lisbon34267165204585
2Porto34248274294580
3Benfica34237469274276
4Braga34197853332064
5Pacos de FerreiraPacos de Ferreira34158114041-153
6Santa ClaraSanta Clara34137144436846
7Vitoria de GuimaraesGuimaraes34127153744-743
8MoreirenseMoreirense341013113743-643
9FamalicaoFamalicao341010144048-840
10BelenensesBelenenses34913122535-1040
11Gil Vicente34116173342-939
12TondelaTondela34106183657-2136
13BoavistaBoavista34812143949-1036
14PortimonensePortimonense3498173441-735
15Maritimo34105192747-2035
RRio AveRio Ave34713142540-1534
RSC FarenseFarense34710173148-1731
RNacional3467213059-2925
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.