Harry Kane, Digi Mart USA News (England): England captain Harry Kane will become the national team’s record appearance maker on Thursday night when he wins his 126th cap against Croatia in the Nations League at Wembley. The landmark comes just weeks after he was crowned the best player in the world.
Kane has ended his long wait for team success with back-to-back Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich, as well as a German Cup. He now says he is eager to win the most prestigious prizes for club and country.
“To win a team trophy with England, a major trophy, is my biggest dream,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday. “That’s always been my biggest dream, to win a European Championship or a World Cup, or both, hopefully, but I know how difficult that is.”
Kane said individual accolades are important to him, but that they are ultimately a consequence of trying to make the team better and win something collectively. With Bayern Munich, his focus is on winning the Champions League.
In recent years Kane has shaken off his reputation as a top player who did not succeed on the big stage. He spent 10 full seasons in the first team at Tottenham without lifting silverware, a period he says made him more hungry for success.
“Once I won the first trophy at Bayern, it was a weight off the shoulders,” he said. “It helped me relax and feel more free.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel described the occasion as a “beautiful occasion” at Wembley, when the Ballon d’Or trophy will be presented to fans on the same day Kane reaches his all-time appearance record. Tuchel also praised Kane’s “unique” skillset, saying he is clinical in front of goal and also a passer who accelerates through his range of passing.
England face Croatia on Thursday at 7.45pm kick-off and Spain on Sunday, November 15, also at 7.45pm kick-off.
