next game and the next achievement,” he says. “I’m sure when I’m
retired in 10 years or so, I’ll look back and take it all in, but for now it’s,
‘Can I improve, can I get better?’
“The ultimate goal for us as a team is to win games, to win major
tournaments. But I know after the two games against Albania and
San Marino, everyone was talking about it a lot more because I was
a lot closer than I was – seven goals in two games obviously helped
to boost my numbers. I’m still young, though: I’m only 28, so I still
feel like I’ve got plenty of time in my England career to go. I’ve got
plenty of aims on the horizon and a big year ahead – another major
tournament this winter. It all comes around so fast, it’s going to be
here before we know it and I’m really excited for that. I’ve just got to
keep improving, keep working, and hopefully I can score a few more.”
How many, is the question. Kane could reach a number that remains
unsurpassed for decades – he’s not a player who has relied on searing
speed, so could have greater longevity than many, his predecessor
Rooney included. Kane’s boyhood hero Teddy Sheringham proved
increasingly adept at dropping into a slightly deeper position as
the years went on, extending his England career until the age of
36, and Kane has displayed signs of a similar trait in his link-up
with Sterling at international level and Son Heung-min at Spurs.
So, good luck to the next bloke trying to beat him? “I’d never
put a limit or a number on how many goals,” he says. “Obviously,
it’s game by game. It’s a cliché, but I feel like I’ve got many more
years in me for England, so if I’ve scored 49 in my first seven years,
then there’s no reason why I can’t do similar in the next six or seven.”
That would put him close to 100 goals, a mark that only Cristiano
Ronaldo and Iran’s Ali Daei have ever surpassed in the men’s game.
Is even that incredible number possible? “Let’s see what happens,” he
chuckles cautiously, understandably not wanting to declare a three-
figure target. “Let’s just take it game by game...”
It’s a mantra that has served him well in his England career so far:
69 games, 49 goals. As we reach the end of our chat and photoshoot,
Kane bids farewell by politely shaking the hand of every member of
the FFT team, then makes his exit. He passes a group of kids on the
way out. “Yo, that’s Harry Kane!” one excitedly exclaims, stunned that
he’s just seen one of the most famous people in England, on a random
Wednesday afternoon at the O2.
There’s barely a single corner of the country that he could visit now
and not be seen as a national hero. Soon, he’ll be England’s greatest
goalscorer of all time.We’re giving away two of the shirts that Harry Kane
donned during our photoshoot. To be in with a chance
of scooping the 1982 away or 2002 home jerseys, just
email [email protected] with the answer to this
question: In which year did Kane make his senior England debut?SHIRTS WORn BY KAnE
WIn!
HARRY
KAnE