England star Harry Kane piles Qatar World Cup pressure on Three Lions

England Training

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England striker Harry Kane says “now is the time” as the infamous Greg Dyke countdown clock finally reaches zero. With Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi still trying to win their first World Cup in their late 30s, Kane, 29, has warned young team-mates like Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham that time is still ticking.

“In four years’ time, who knows where I will be?” he said ahead of England’s opening game against Iran. “It is about now. I am in good form and that is what I am most excited about.

“You cannot take anything for granted in football, for sure. I was lucky enough to play in 2018 in the World Cup and had an amazing experience and a great tournament and, yeah, in football a lot can change very quickly.

“You have to appreciate these moments, for sure, and I am really looking forward to this one because we have got a really good team, a great blend of experience and youth. In life in general you have to take opportunities that come your way.

“I look back through my career and I had a great opportunity when I was 21 to grab the starting shirt at Tottenham and work my way up through the team and this is just another step in hopefully that direction. Of course it is going to be really hard and a big challenge, but I am ready for that challenge.”

When St George’s Park was opened in 2012, former FA chairman Dyke set up the challenge of winning the World Cup within 10 years. The only trophy so far in the men’s senior cabinet so far, though, is the Golden Boot that Kane won as top scorer four years ago.

While the Tottenham star would not mind a repeat, he is more focused this time on team honours. “Of course, it would be a great thing to achieve,” he said. “I was able to do it in 2018 and it helped the team to get to a semi-final.

“I know if I won it again this year it means that hopefully the team is doing pretty well and we’re going pretty far which is the most important thing. Of course as a striker I’ll be judged on scoring goals, I know how that works but most importantly it is about giving my best for the team – whether that is scoring, assisting, defending, whatever it may be I’m ready to do what’s necessary to win.

“For sure, the most important thing is trying to win the World Cup and that’s what my focus is on, that is what the team’s focus is on and we know we’ve got a difficult road ahead, but we’re focused on trying to achieve it.”

If he comes even close it will mean passing Wayne Rooney’s England record of 53 international goals. “I know it’s there and I know people talk about it but I like to just focus on my game and trying to do my best for the team,” Kane insisted.

“I know the team we have will create chances and I just need to be ready for ones that come my way. I was lucky enough to play with Wayne many times from England and he was a huge player who I looked up to growing up and playing for England, watched him in the major tournaments so to be close to him is obviously a real honour and for sure.

“Hopefully I can do it as soon as possible but if it’s not the case, it’s not something I’m going to panic about. I’ll just focus game by game.”

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