EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Harry Kane went from an invisible first half to England’s all-time leading goal scorer at the World Cup.
After touching the ball the fewest times of any player in the first 45 or so minutes of an important game against Panama on Saturday to wrap up group play, Kane needed one important header to make history. In the 67th minute, he scored his 11th career World Cup goal to break a tie with Gary Lineker for the country's most on soccer's biggest stage.
"It’s fantastic that he has the chance to break this record in a World Cup when it really matters," coach Thomas Tuchel said after England beat Panama 2-0 to win its group. “Everyone’s very happy for Harry because he’s a fantastic teammate. That makes it very special. He’s loved by everyone, respected by everyone.”
This particular goal was the result of the chemistry he and Jude Bellingham have built up over several years playing together. Bellingham, who scored a few minutes earlier to relieve some of the tension building up on the field and in the stands full of red-and-white clad fans, made the pass to Kane, who outjumped Andrés Andrade and headed a ball past diving goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
“It’s quite easy to play with him, in all honestly,” Bellingham said. “He’s at a level at the minute that’s just incredible. You don’t doubt him at all in terms of whether he’s involved, whether he’s not. You know he’s going to make a difference in the game, and he did again.”
There did seem to be doubt at halftime, when Kane was a nonfactor with 10 touches and England was never close to scoring. Down the road in Philadelphia, Croatia's lead on Ghana turned up the pressure.
But there was far more jump out of halftime, and the soon-to-be 33-year-old striker was a big part of the improvement on the way to a victory that looked on the scoreboard more convincing than it felt for much of the the it was being played.
The goal was Kane's 82nd playing for England internationally, adding to his own record. Teammate Jordan Henderson, now at his fourth World Cup, recalled Kane scoring twice in the opener against Croatia to match Lineker and mistakenly thought this mark was already in Kane's sole possession.
“It seems with age, he’s just continued,” Henderson said. "He’s smashing records everywhere he goes and scores so many goals. He’s been an incredible player so far for England and continues. He’s still got a long way to go. But, yeah, he deserves everything he gets. He’s been an incredible player, an incredible teammate and delighted for him to be able to get that record.”
Bellingham considers Kane England's best player of all time — “the one who’s showed up more than anyone, more than any England player.” Kane even scored with another icon, David Beckham, watching from the stands with his face flashed on video screens to massive cheers.
Beckham might be an inspiration of sorts, but Kane is the one leading the way and now has three goals going into the knockout stage. Those around him do not expect him to stop scoring any time soon, given the elusive aim of taking a World Cup trophy home for the first time in 60 years.
“Harry is in an amazing state of mind — physically, as well,” Tuchel said. "He is hungry to go all the way in this World Cup and he is not satisfied, which shows just the character and the determination of him. That’s why we are a happy to have him as a captain.”
