England star Harry Kane needs a good World Cup to prove he is a real star, according to Three Lions legend Alan Shearer
HARRY KANE needs a good World Cup to prove he is global star, according to England legend Alan Shearer.
Kane drew a blank during the Three Lions’ poor campaign at Euro 2016, when boss Roy Hodgson made the bizarre decision to put him on corner-taking duty.
Shearer, speaking at the launch of the BBC’s coverage of Russia 2018, said: “I think it’s a huge tournament for Harry because of what happened two years ago.
“I’m pretty certain he won’t be asked to take corners in this World Cup.
“To put himself on the global stage – he’s known all around Europe, obviously – he has to go out and perform and score goals in this tournament.
“I watched the game at Wembley, Tottenham’s last match. Harry and Jamie Vardy were both in fantastic form.
“Harry hasn’t looked his sharpest over the last two or three weeks perhaps because of his injury.
"But he had two chances on Sunday and took them both very well, as did Jamie Vardy.
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“They will go into the tournament with confidence, Harry with 41 goals this season, Jamie with 23.”
Gary Lineker, who will front the BBC’s World Cup operation, knows what it is like to go to a tournament as England’s main goal threat and rejects any claim that Mo Salah’s Golden Boot success will take the heat off Kane.
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Lineker said: “Give it another three weeks! He knows it, he’ll handle it, he’s fine.
“There are certain individuals that embrace that pressure, embrace that opportunity to show that you can do it on the biggest stage.
“Harry strikes me as that kind of guy. He knows how to handle himself. But it’s tournament football. Luck is important.
“Sometimes you get a run of luck and everything you hit goes into the back of the net. You mis-hit it and score.
“There are lot of variables. And you also need a team behind you playing good football to create the opportunities for you.
“No-one beyond the Messis of this world can do it on their own.”