He Kane, he saw and he conquered. England captain and leading light Harry Kane joined Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Lineker to plunder a hat-trick at World Cup 2018.
The Tottenham frontman polished off two penalties and added a fortuitous third as the Three Lions recorded their biggest-ever World Cup victory in the 6-1 hammering of poor Panama.
Here’s a closer look at Kane’s performance, as his goals to lead the Golden Boot race hallmarked an impressive display in Nizhny Novgorod.
KEY STATS
30-SECOND REPORT
Cool, clinical and calculated. England have a bleak history when it comes to penalties but should they arrive in the knockouts, Gareth Southgate has at least one guaranteed success.
Kane torpedoed twin spot-kicks and then required forward’s fortune to notch his hat-trick as Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s strike ballooned in off his heel.
The 24-year-old was substituted straight after but despite only touching the ball 21 times, Kane was supremely efficient away from his goals.
He dropped deep collected the ball confidently and would look to link-up with runners ahead of him in Jesse Lingard and Raheem Sterling.
The goals give him a great platform to contend the Golden Boot alongside Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Ronaldo. In this form, there is more to come.
GOT RIGHT
Embracing the pressure – As Lionel Messi has already shown in Russia, scoring from 12-yards is no easy feat for a player bearing immense pressure. But like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, Kane stepped up and buried two precise pens to justify his status as England’s leading man.
Battle hardened – Panama lead the way for bookings in Russia and their rough and tough tactics were aimed squarely at Kane. He was England’s joint-most fouled player (two) and aside from those awarded, he stood up well to a battering from the Central Americans.
GOT WRONG
All-round play – Nit-picking in the absolute extreme considering he scored a hat-trick, but 21 touches in 65 minutes is not the complete centre-forward play England will require against tougher opposition. What marked Kane out as an elite striker for Spurs is his all-round development outside of his gluttony of goals and we’re yet to see that impact in Russia.
VERDICT
Kane viciously finished his two penalties, which spoke volumes for his confidence, and then cruelly secured his hat-trick via a deflection, a nod to the fortune all in-form forwards enjoy.
With five goals in two games, the England No9 is keeping up his weighty promise to rival Ronaldo for the Golden Boot.
Kane truly believes he’s capable of doing so and that motivation can only be to England’s benefit.
RATING – 9/10
