World Cup 2018: Harry Kane should keep England squad together and never take captaincy for granted
Tottenham striker will realise what a huge role being Three Lions skipper is at Russia 2018
DON’T listen to those who argue that the role of an international captain is not important.
Harry Kane will already be realising just how big the job is. Let me tell you, it is far from symbolic.
It was, without doubt, the greatest thrill of my career to lead the England team at a World Cup, as I did in 1998.
But I didn’t just see the role as being the bloke who wears an armband and stands in the middle for the coin toss.
As far as I was concerned it was my responsibility to make sure everyone in the squad was happy and up for the battles ahead.
Whenever we were in a hole, I was the one they all looked to to get us out of it. A major part of the captain’s job is the link between the players and the manager.
You are the squad’s mouthpiece if they have an issue, even if it’s something as trivial as what time they have to be at breakfast and whether they can have a lie-in.
Ultimately, it’s up to the manager to say yes or no and you can only push it so far but, believe me, players will try it on and take and take.
Harry must make sure the squad is fully together and never take it for granted.
You have to keep your eyes and ears open for any little problems.
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This seems a particularly good group in that regard but it should not be forgotten that they have been trying to kick lumps out of each other for the previous nine months of the Premier League season and that can cause little frictions.
I remember how Tony Adams was England captain at Euro 96 but Glenn Hoddle gave me the job for France 98.
I know Tony badly wanted it and was hurt by the decision but I had total respect for him.
He was the best centre-back I ever played against in England and I’ve still got the scars on my lips and head from his elbows.
Tony was a proper warrior and it was up to me to make sure there were no issues.
I always gave him a big handshake or hug when the squad got together.
I was in a very privileged position and I knew he wanted what I had, so it was up to me to make an effort.
Me being captain didn’t stop Tony being Tony in the dressing room, though.
And we also had Stuart Pearce, David Seaman, Teddy Sheringham, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and Paul Ince, so the side was full of captains. Apart from being the leader, my principle task was to score goals and Harry will feel the same.
He has a thirst for hitting the net and wants every record out there, as he showed in claiming that goal at Stoke.
It really hurt Adams when I got the job
Alan Shearer
When he’s finished playing, that goal might make all the difference in the record books.
It’s a huge World Cup for him, especially because of his performances in Euro 2016, where he didn’t really have a kick and was poor.
Since then, he’s had two magnificent seasons but he hasn’t yet produced the goods at a major tournament.
This is where he can really show he is one of the world’s best strikers.
His touch is good, he scores all types of goals — headers, left-foot, right-foot, tap-ins and long-rangers — and has great self-belief, too.
Everything in his game has improved over the last few seasons.
Teams have tried to rough him up and that hasn’t worried him, either.
But the most important thing is to lead on the pitch.
When your team is in trouble, are you the man to step up?
He’s done it for Spurs, now he has to do it for England in a tournament.
Harry hasn’t had it easy. He was out on loan and had to force his way into the Spurs team the hard way.
People told him he wasn’t good enough and he could have become frustrated and chucked the towel in. Now he’s the main man.
What does concern me is whether we have enough in reserve if Harry gets injured.
We don’t have another forward in his mould. Jamie Vardy is our best option and we’d have to utilise his pace and play to his strengths.
The Leicester man is a good option to throw on if we need to change a game but not as a starter.
He’s a good player, a good centre-forward but you wouldn’t describe him as a great centre-forward.
In my time we had so much more competition for the striker’s spot.
There was Gary Lineker in my early days, Ian Wright, Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand, Teddy Sheringham and Michael Owen to name a few. Kane wouldn’t look out of place on that list.
Going into 1998 I felt good and I sense Harry is in exactly the same frame of mind.
You like to pretend there isn’t extra pressure as the skipper but there is.
There’s a weight of expectancy on your shoulders because of who you are but it’s good pressure.
I’ve still got my tops and armbands from ’98, which I’ve had framed. But my pride and joy is the one from my first game as England captain — a World Cup qualifier away to Moldova.
It doesn’t sound glamorous but it meant everything to me.
You might hope to play for England but you never think you will be captain.
If you’re a top player, you love the extra responsibility. The more that’s put on you, the more of a kick and a buzz you get.
The biggest compliment a manager can give you is to make you the captain of your country.
Now it’s up to Harry to reward boss Gareth Southgate for showing so much faith in him.