It was the 84th minute of England’s World Cup quarterfinal match with France. Having already converted a penalty that put the Three Lions level just a half hour prior, Harry Kane stepped up to face his club teammate Hugo Lloris for the second time.
After leaving no doubt while scoring the first, the England captain stepped up to the spot…and airmailed it over the crossbar.
As a Spurs supporter, I felt for Harry Kane as soon as he missed the spot kick. I wasn’t necessarily upset that he missed it though. I felt terrible for him because I knew what would be coming his way.
Kane would be labelled a bottler. Fans would attack him on social media. Although he’s one of the greatest players in the history of both Tottenham and the England national team, I knew that there would be a lot of abuse coming his way.
And for what? Because he missed a penalty that would’ve tied a game that England might well have lost anyway? I’m not having any of it.
(Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)
A club legend
Say what you will about his lack of trophies, but it’s not for lack of trying. Kane has had a hand in Spurs reaching three cup finals in his career, including the only Champions League final in the history of the club.
Before Harry Kane, Spurs had reached the Champions League only twice in club history. Since Kane broke into the first team, the team has qualified for Europe’s top club competition five times and never had a season without European football.
While the club has enjoyed success, Kane himself has cemented his status as arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker.
Kane has registered 408 appearances in a Spurs shirt while scoring a record 261 goals, just five off of the record held by Jimmy Greaves. 45 of Kane’s goals have happened to come in European competition, the most in club history by a wide margin (GOAL).
Kane has also gathered a lot of hardware along the way. The 2014-15 PFA Young Player of the Year has also been named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year five times while winning the Golden Boot on three occasions. He was also the 2020-21 Premier League Playmaker of the season (top assists) and was the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year in 2016-17.
National treasure
On top of everything Harry Kane has done with and for Tottenham, he has arguably done even more for England.
The captain of the Three Lions has tallied 53 goals in just 80 appearances for his country, tied atop the all-time goals list alongside Wayne Rooney. In two World Cups Kane has scored eight goals – currently second on England’s all-time list – and has been named the FA England Player of the Year twice.
At the 2018 World Cup, Kane won the tournament’s Golden Boot while leading England to the semifinals, their furthest advancement in the tournament since 1990. He turned in another memorable performance at the 2022 World Cup, scoring two goals and adding three assists in five matches.
Even at UEFA Euro 2020, Kane scored four goals – second most at the tournament – while captaining his country to the final. Not only was it England’s first Euro final ever, but also it’s first major final since the 1966 World Cup.
Appreciate Kane’s greatness, before it’s too late
So why is it that one of the legends of the English game is always so heavily blasted for every mistake he makes?
Why is he being so heavily criticized, despite the fact that he has led both club and country to levels of success neither have seen in years?
Who cares if he missed the second penalty in the quarterfinal match against France?
It did not cost England the game if that’s what you think. Even if he would have converted, the game was tied. They still could have needed the 30 minutes of extra time, just to lose on penalties.
England was on the front foot you say? Well, that produced a total of zero non-penalty goals in the match, so it clearly meant nothing.
You can’t blame all of England’s problems on Harry Kane, just like you can’t blame all of Spurs’ trophyless seasons on him either.
Harry Kane is a legend of the sport for both club and country. Fans should start appreciating his game before it is too late, or they might just miss all of his greatness.
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