It was the perfect hat-trick in his imperfect season. Harry Kane’s first-half treble in England’s 5-0 thrashing of Albania came with his head, his left foot and his right, courtesy of a spectacular bicycle kick. It was the restoration of normal service after he drew a blank against Hungary.
That was the first time in 15 qualifiers when he failed to find the net. This was the Kane who, in Jordan Henderson’s words, is “one of the best strikers in the world,” rather than the out-of-form, out-of-sorts presence labouring in an underachieving Tottenham team. Kane had three times as many goals before the break against Albania as he has managed in the 2021/22 Premier League.
While Antonio Conte’s appointment offers the potential that he can be rejuvenated at club level, Kane admitted this week that the summer saga of the transfer that wasn’t took its toll mentally. He had looked drained physically, too. Now he has drawn level with Jimmy Greaves on 44 England goals while the probability that he is stuck at Spurs suggests he will overhaul the late great as the club’s record scorer.
But, in personal quest for fulfilment, England could define him and motivate him. He may be unlikely to win the major honours with Spurs but he feels destined to retire as his country’s most prolific goalscorer. He is only nine behind Wayne Rooney’s record, with a trip to San Marino on Monday and after overhauling the former captain’s total in competitive games. The fundamental difference, has come, when it has mattered: Kane has 10 goals in his last two tournaments, whereas Rooney got three in his final five.
Kane can be a symbol of a modern-day golden age for England, albeit one not yet garnished by silverware. With 39 goals in his last 49 games under Gareth Southgate, no one has more goals for one England manager. Since the 1950s, only Greaves can rival his goal-per-game ratio.
And yet when Kane said the team had a point to prove, perhaps that applied more to him than most. International football comes in the context of the domestic game. As Henderson reflected: “You’re going to get criticism at times, when your club form is not as great, probably at Spurs, as what he would want.”
Southgate can be steadfast in his backing of his stalwarts. In Raheem Sterling, Harry Maguire and Kane, he had three enduring difficult campaigns at club level. Each has retained his importance for his country. Southgate stuck with Kane when he was mediocre in the Euro 2020 group stages and was rewarded with four goals in the knockout phase. Southgate stuck with his captain again.
England v Albania ratings
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ENGLAND RATINGS: Jordan Pickford: 6 - The goalkeeper had little to do, but made one key stop to deny Uzuni in a one-on-one opportunity. PA -
Kyle Walker: 5 - Looked nervous at times, giving away a one-on-one chance to Albania striker Uzuni, which was saved by Pickford. Getty -
Harry Maguire: 6 - Made a few mistakes in possession, one where he was caught on the ball and lost out. He did manage to get on the scoresheet for the side, with an unmarked header from a free-kick. AFP -
John Stones: 6 - Won the majority of his duels with a brave performance, summed up when he put his head in the way of Laci’s overhead kick and got a hit for his troubles. EPA -
Reece James: 8 - Impressed at right wing-back, assisting Maguire’s goal from the free-kick with a chipped cross and he also played a big role in the second goal, driving inside with his strength to create space. EPA -
Jordan Henderson: 8 - The midfielder was everywhere, tracking back to make challenges, winning the ball high up before assisting Kane for the second goal. He even added himself to the scoresheet with a composed run and finish. PA -
Kalvin Phillips: 6 - Looked to receive the ball from his defenders and circulate possession whenever possible, with the player sitting back whilst Henderson was more adventurous in the midfield. EPA -
Ben Chilwell: 6 - Had a fine game, driving forward a few times and linking up with Sterling. He played one dangerous cross into the box that was headed clear and could have extended England’s lead. Reuters -
Phil Foden: 5 - Had a quiet night, playing some neat passes such as his backheel in the box to find James, but he didn’t have the clinical edge to set up or score a goal. AFP -
Harry Kane: 10 -The England captain was back at his very best, scoring a simple header from a ball across goal and then doubling his tally with a run behind and a simple finish. He completed his first-half hat-trick with a fantastic acrobatic volley from a corner. EPA -
Raheem Sterling: 7 - Looked to create chances with his dribbling, carrying the ball well and then slipping in Kane for his second. PA -
SUBS: Tammy Abraham (For Kane 63’): 6 - Had little to do as England took their foot off the gas. The forward had no shots as no chances fell his way. PA -
Jack Grealish (For Foden 63’): 6 - Got himself into the game on the left, picking up the ball and looking to drive into the box. Every time he attempted this, he was denied by defenders who crowded him out. EPA -
Jude Bellingham (For Phillips 63’): 7 - Had a comfortable game from the bench and should have had an assist. Ran into the box and flicked the ball back to James with time and space, who then smashed the ball wide. EPA -
Emile Smith Rowe (For Sterling 76’): 6 - Brought energy to the latter stages of the game, picking up the ball in midfield and driving at defenders. However, he got bullied off the ball on one occasion where he could’ve done better. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold (For James 76’): 7 - The right-back looked at ease, playing a fantastic ball through the middle of the park and beating the whole opposition team to find Smith Rowe. AFP -
ALBANIA RATINGS: Thomas Strakosha: 5 - Dad little protection from his defenders, but made one fantastic stop to deny Kane, who hit one from the edge of the box that was destined for the top corner before his save. Reuters -
Frederic Veseli: 4 - The Serie A defender struggled with the threat of James and Foden on his side, more worried about the run of the latter and playing Kane onside for his second goal of the night. Reuters -
Marash Kumbulla: N/R - Took an early knock, getting subbed off before England raced into a quick lead. Getty -
Ardian Ismajli: 5 - The Empoli centre-back received an early yellow card, making his night tougher as Sterling drove down his side. He made one good challenge to deny the winger when he got into the box from squaring it across the box. AP -
Lorenc Trashi: 4 - The left-wing-back struggled to deal with the ability of James down his flank, dragged out of position and allowing Henderson to find the space and cross for the second goal. PA -
Nedim Bajrami: 6 - Helped in his team’s press, forcing a mistake out of Walker to put Uzuni through on goal, but the forward didn’t convert. Getty -
Klaus Gjasula: 6 - The midfielder won the majority of his duels, though he struggled to pick up on Kane when he dropped deep, earning an early yellow card for bringing the striker down. Getty -
Keidi Bare: N/R - Had to be subbed off early with a knock that he picked up and went down with several times. PA -
Elseid Hysaj: 7 -The Albania captain looked the most secure of his backline, making a vital header to deny Kane another easy goal in the first half to turn the ball behind. PA -
Myrto Uzuni: 6 -The forward had few chances, but failed to take one golden opportunity in the first half. He latched onto a loose back pass from Walker, putting him one-on-one with Pickford but the goalkeeper was equal to his effort. Getty -
Sokol Cikalleshi: 5 - Cikalleshi had a few efforts when England fell asleep, two coming on the right where he managed to get past Maguire but fired a weak effort at Pickford. AFP -
SUBS: Qazim Laci (For Bare 12’): 6 - The most accurate passer for his side, regularly finding his teammates with the ball. He was also good in winning challenges, stifling Henderson when he looked to break. AFP -
Kastriot Dermaku (For Kumbulla 17’): 4 - The defender struggled and within one minute of being on the pitch, he lost Kane in the box and allowed the striker a comfortable header for the second goal. AP -
Enea Mihaj (Trashi 46’): 6 -Managed to keep James quiet in the second half, taking over on the left flank but there was little threat from England as the game drew on. AFP -
Ylber Ramadani (For Bajrami 46’): 6 - The midfielder added extra energy centrally winning a late duel against Smith Rowe with good strength on display. AFP -
Odise Roshi (For Uzuni 86’): N/R - The forward came on as extra legs to keep pressing England as the game came to a close. AFP
“Form is always temporary,” he said. “What pleased me most was his all-round performance. We know he’s going to score goals. I liked the way he was aggressive in his hold-up play and running in behind. His link play was on song.”
If the sense is that Conte will also want Kane to run in behind defences, rather than forever dropping deep, there is a deeper question if he is entering decline. He can look an extraordinary finisher and a fine passer or tired as he toils. But given England’s host of gifted wingers, with the sight of the debutant Emile Smith Rowe meaning yet more options to Sterling are emerging, all the alternatives to Kane have looked back-ups, lacking his full range of attributes.
As it seems Southgate may extend his contract to include Euro 2024, the presumption must be that he hopes Kane remains pivotal for a tournament that takes place just before his skipper’s 31st birthday. And if so, Kane will have left Rooney’s record far behind him.
