Only once the 1974 edition in West Germany has a player scored more than six goals at a World Cup: Ronaldo, who bagged eight on route to Brazil’s fifth title in 2002. Yet Harry Kane requires just one more strike to join that exclusive club, having already found the net six times in his three appearances in Russia so far this summer.
In truth, none of Kane’s goals have been spectacular. Three have come from the penalty spot, another couple have been follow-ups from set-pieces, and the remaining effort was highly fortunate, the ball deflecting off Kane’s heel and into the net after Ruben Loftus-Cheek had pulled the trigger from outside the box. Kane, of course, still deserves credit for ruthlessly dispatching the chances that have come his way, but it is his work outside the penalty area which has been most impressive at this World Cup.
Gareth Southgate altered the configuration of his midfield for the friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy in March, flipping the triangle to include just one holder rather than two. Jordan Henderson has assumed the starting berth at the base of that trio in Southgate’s favoured 3-5-2 formation, with Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli – who are both most dangerous when making intelligent, dynamic runs out of possession – fielded ahead of the Liverpool man as duel No.8s.
In order to create space for Lingard and Alli’s forward movements, the strike duo of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling are required to drop into deeper areas and link the play. Both have done this brilliantly so far – the criticism of Sterling’s failure to find the net in Russia misses the point – with Kane particularly excellent in a role which is different to the one he is asked to fulfil at club level.
Against Colombia, the 24-year-old regularly peeled off the front to great effect, holding the ball up, inviting midfield runners beyond him and winning free-kicks to relieve the pressure. Kane’s passing – an underrated quality of his – was terrific and, crucially, he also popped in goalscoring positions as well as contributing in deeper zones, even though England struggled to create clear-cut chances in open play.
Kane’s goalscoring has naturally taken the headlines in the last few weeks but he has also excelled outside the penalty box, proving once again that he is one of the world’s most complete centre-forwards.
