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Al Khor (Qatar) (AFP) – He had made assists but not yet scored: Harry Kane, top scorer at the last World Cup, finally unlocked his counter against Senegal (3-0) during the 2022 edition. France must be wary of “HurryKane” in quarter-finals.
He wasn’t worried. “I hope I can open my counter,” said the English captain before this round of 16 at al-Bayt stadium in al-Khor.
Clinic on a perfect cross from Phil Foden, the Tottenham striker took his chance (45th + 3) to sign the knockout goal. (2-0), just before the break.
In the first round he had not found the target but contributed to the qualification with three assists, two against Iran (6-2), for Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford, and one against Wales (3-0 ) for Foden, who therefore returned the courtesy in the magnificent stadium in the shape of a Bedouin tent.
“I feel like I played well,” said Kane before the 1/8 final. “As always, I’m calm and focused on doing the best for the team. As a striker, you always want to score.”
Besides his goal, the “Spurs” participated in the opener. Taking advantage of a deflection from Foden, he shifted Jude Bellingham whose center back found Jordan Henderson (38th).
One unit away from Rooney’s record
The English captain had other chances, taking over a cross from Bukayo Saka (41st). He is not on the third goal, signed Saka (57th), but had just before hit Edouard Mendy from afar, who blocked the ball in two stages (56th).
Finally, by a toe, Kane could have scored a double on a sliding tackle, where he missed the ball with one breath (80th).
With this 52nd goal in 79 selections, Kane remains one unit behind the top scorer of the “Three Lions”, Wayne Rooney (53).
Kane had just replaced “Wazza” for his very first selection, in March 2015 against Lithuania (4-0), and scored a few moments after coming into play.
It was therefore not necessary to worry too much about his silence in Qatar. In 1982, Italian Paolo Rossi woke up for the last three games and finished world champion – and the tournament’s top scorer – with six goals.
Already during the last Euro, Kane had not scored in the group stage before going wild: a goal against Germany (2-0), two against Ukraine (4-0) and one in the semi-final against Denmark (2-1 after).
The boss had also ensured the first shot on goal in the final against Italy, without preventing defeat (1-1, 3 tab to 2).
In Russia, it was the opposite. He had scored his six goals in the first round, including three penalties, with a hat-trick against Panama (6-1).
Coach Gareth Southgate, who has loved him since the Espoirs, gave him the armband for the 2018 World Cup, England’s most successful since 1990.
In those years, the center-forward was Gary Lineker, top scorer in the 1986 World Cup, with six goals as well.
With now seven goals in the World Cup, Kane is still three lengths behind his eldest (four other goals in 1990), England’s top scorer in the tournament.
The Blues have been warned, hurricane “HurryKane” has started to blow again in the desert.
© 2022 AFP