Tottenham striker Harry Kane has enjoyed an unbelievable rise over the last few years: breaking into the Spurs side, winning the Premier League Golden Boot and now leading the line for England at Euro 2016.
As the Three Lions prepare to face Wales for their crunch Group B match in Lille tomorrow, the 22-year-old took some time out to reflect on his top England moments for metro.co.uk.
Let’s hope the memories inspire a match-winning performance tomorrow!
5. England U-17 Algarve tournament, February 2010
John Peacock, then Under-17s manager, gave Kane his England debut by selecting him for the Algarve tournament against France, Ukraine and Portugal.
The young striker starred and set off a rise that shows no signs of slowing.
Kane says: ‘This was the first time I pulled on the England shirt. Playing for your country is a magical moment and for me it was the start of everything I dreamed of achieving as a senior player.’
4. England U-19 European Championship, July 2012
Despite being selected for the squad that ultimately won the Under-17 title in May 2010, Kane, cruelly, could only watch from the sidelines due to illness.
The striker made up for this disappointment two years later, putting in a star goalscoring performance to knock France out of the Under-19s tournament in Estonia.
Kane remembers: ‘It was my first tournament as an England player so I was naturally excited to experience such a situation. I scored against France but played in midfield a bit as well.
‘We got to the semi-final but I was rested for the game against Greece – and we lost.’
3. England debut v Lithuania, March 2015
It took Kane only 75 seconds to score on his senior England debut.
The young forward gave Roy Hodgson no choice but to call him up to the squad after netting 29 goals for Tottenham in a scintillating run of form that still shows no signs of slowing down.
Kane finished the season on 31 goals to cement a breakthrough campaign.
Kane says: ‘It was amazing to just be out there at Wembley – so to then score so quickly was crazy. It honestly felt like a dream when you are in a moment like that. I had visualised that my entire life.’
2. Scoring against Germany, March 2016
The Three Lions found themselves 2 – 0 down at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, but Kane sparked the comeback that suggested this new look England side really could be something special.
Kane finished the Premier League season as Golden Boot winner, notching 25 goals to thoroughly rubbish suggestions he was a one season wonder.
Kane recalls: ‘This was the best goal I have scored in an England shirt so far, especially as it was against one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I used a Cruyff turn and then struck the ball into the corner.
‘At that moment I didn’t think about the symbolism of scoring after the use of a Cruyff turn – but afterwards I did!’
1. Germany comeback, March 2016
Yes, it may only have been a friendly, but England’s grit, belief and attacking verve made the comeback against Germany a real moment of note.
There remains a feeling that the result was the making of the side embarking on glory at Euro 2016.
Only time will tell how far they can go.
Kane says: ‘To go and win that game in the manner we did – to come back from 2-0 down away from home to the world champions – was such a big boost.
‘Psychologically that can help us further down the line. It’s good to have experiences like that to draw on for when you are next in a losing position.’
Harry Kane trains and plays for England in Nike Football apparel with AeroSwift technology and the Spark Brilliance Pack Hypervenom II. Explore the England collection on nike.com
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