Kane will start for England... and who better to deliver the Euro 2024 trophy?

Kane

Let's be honest, we're not seeing a repeat of the Jimmy Greaves situation here. Greaves, a legendary player for England, Tottenham, and Chelsea, was widely regarded as the best English goal scorer of all time. However, many remember him for being on the bench during the 1966 World Cup Final, while Geoff Hurst stole the show with a hat-trick performance that ultimately made him a hero and later earned him a knighthood.

Kane - Figure 1
Photo Evening Standard

Greaves had some bad luck when he got a knee injury and couldn't play in the quarter-final game against Argentina, where Hurst scored a goal. The manager at the time, Alf Ramsey, was hesitant to make any changes to the team that was already winning.

Even though Ollie Watkins' impressive goal in the last minute of the game against Netherlands was remarkable in Dortmund on Wednesday night, Harry Kane will be starting on Sunday. It wouldn't be a shock if he ultimately wins the Golden Boot and is selected for the tournament team. He is currently tied for the top scorer position with three goals.

Kane is chosen to play by coaches because they admire his leadership qualities. Despite dealing with a back injury that limits his mobility, Kane is still the best at scoring goals in the penalty area, and Spain is well aware of that.

Harry Kane is the top scorer in the history of England and could be considered the greatest in the world.

Trainers also appreciate the limited mobility he currently displays. The first half of Wednesday's game against Netherlands was filled with smart plays, seamlessly moving into a smooth midfield. What they need more of are those important dashes into the goal box to connect with crosses. However, the goals scored against Denmark and Slovakia were still typical of Kane's style.

It is clear that Kane is not at his best, despite being the first English player to win the Bundesliga Torjagerkanone this season. He scored 36 goals in 34 games, a feat that Kevin Keegan and Jude Bellingham were unable to achieve. When he scored consecutive hat-tricks against Borussia Dortmund and Darmstadt earlier in the season, he seemed almost unstoppable in the Bundesliga.

But things didn't go as planned, Bayer Leverkusen ended up winning both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal. Kane was not on the field when Thomas Tuchel decided to rest him during Bayern's second-round Cup loss to Saarbrucken in November. He was also benched during the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, feeling disappointed as he watched his team lose 2-1. Kane had been substituted before the final whistle, with Bayern leading 1-0.

Only the most heartless individuals could find joy in the unfortunate reality that an incredibly talented player has yet to achieve any victories.

Only those with a heart of stone, and supporters of Arsenal, could find joy in the surprising fact that a player as talented as this, considered the best forward of his time, has not yet achieved any major victories in the sport by the age of 30. If he wants to change that, he will need to do better in crucial matches. The finals he has participated in so far do not stand out: the Carabao Cup finals of 2015 and 2021, the Champions League final of 2019, and the Euro final of 2021. He has not scored any goals, provided any assists, or tasted any victories in these games. It should be noted that in 2019 he returned from injury quickly and performed well in the beginning of the match in 2021. However, his exceptional talent calls for a defining moment of his own.

The loss to Madrid in the semi-finals in May was the first sign of trouble. The decision to substitute the best player five minutes before the end seemed odd, until Thomas Tuchel explained that he was struggling with a back issue. This also caused him to miss the last two Bundesliga games. Kane insisted it was just a precaution. At that time, Lewandowski's Bundesliga record of 41 goals was still within reach for Kane, who had scored 36 goals. The German media was speculating whether he could achieve it. Kane would not have willingly given up the chance, however slim, of scoring back-to-back hat-tricks to break that record.

TV commentator Gary Neville suggested this week that it wouldn't be shocking if it turns out that the player has been using injections during the tournament. However, Coach Gareth Southgate will probably not bench him. It would require a bold coach to make that decision. Maybe Gareth is considering replacing Harry Kane and bringing in a different player to switch things up.

This is the current situation with Kane. At the moment, he may not be as unstoppable as before, but he still manages to intimidate opponents and earn the trust of his teammates. Watkins and Ivan Toney are excellent choices as well. Watkins provides speedy runs and high energy, while Toney excels in connecting play and holding up the ball, along with having strong aerial abilities and physical strength. England's bench has more potent attacking options than any other team at Euro 2024, which could be crucial in Sunday's match. The outcome of the game may be determined in the last 20 minutes, and making substitutions could give England the edge.

I'll never forget the first game I covered this season, the German Super Cup Final. It was Kane's first game playing for Bayern against RB Leipzig. Kane came onto the field after 64 minutes, but the real star of the show was a Spanish player named Dani Olmo. Not many people in England were talking about him at the time, but he managed to score a hat-trick and completely outshine Bayern. Let's hope Kane can outshine Olmo in their next game on Sunday.

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