When England line up for their opening match of Euro 2024 against Serbia on June 16, there are two names that Gareth Southgate will be desperate to have fully fit and on the pitch in Gelsenkirchen.
If all goes well, the England manager should be able to call on two of European football's standout performers this season as the Three Lions look to end a wait of 58 years since winning their only major honour – the 1966 World Cup.
But before spearheading England's campaign shoulder-to-shoulder in Germany, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham must go head-to-head for their respective clubs as European giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid do battle in the Champions League semi-finals.
After making big-money moves last summer, both players hit the ground running in Germany and Spain – and have barely slowed down since.
After spending his entire career at Tottenham Hotspur, where he became the club's all-time record scorer with 280 goals, Kane moved to Bayern in a deal worth around €100 million as he looked to secure the first silverware of his career.
Bayern Munich appeared to be a safe bet: the six-time champions of Europe who were looking to win the Bundesliga title for a 12th successive season and had not finished a season trophyless since 2012.
Like his time at Spurs, the goals have been free-flowing, with Kane's double in Bayern's win over Eintracht Frankfurt taking his tally for the season across competitions to 42 – a new personal best for the 30-year-old.
In the Bundesliga, he is six short of Robert Lewandowski's record of 41 goals with three games left to play. “It's possible, but obviously I have to get a move on,” Kane conceded at the weekend. “I've got to maybe score a few goals next week. It's there, it's in touching distance.”
But the team silverware has not materialised for Kane. In his first appearance for the club, Bayern were beaten 3-0 by RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup, their hopes of winning a 21st German Cup were ended by third division Saarbrucken and, earlier this month, Xabi Alonso's unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen side secured their first Bundesliga title.
Off the pitch, relations between coach Thomas Tuchel and the Bayern management have just hit a new low after honorary president Uli Hoeness decided the time was right to launch a broadside at Tuchel, suggesting the former Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea manager would rather just “buy someone else” than try to improve players already at his disposal.
“It offends me deeply as a coach,' said an incensed Tuchel, who will be leaving Bayern at the end of the campaign. “If we have proven something in the coaching team over the last 15 years, it is that young players … always have a place with us. I find it absolutely baseless."
All in all, hardly the best preparation ahead of Tuesday's semi-final first leg at the Allianz Arena, although Kane remains upbeat.
“I'm confident I'm in a good moment and I can put some away,” said England's all-time top scorer, with 62 goals for his country.
“I'm looking forward to the atmosphere – the atmosphere against Arsenal [in the quarter-final] was incredible. I'm expecting it'll go another level up and I'm quite excited.”
Over in Madrid, life is far more harmonious in the camp of England's other shining light. Bellingham moved to Spain from Dortmund for a fee in excess of €100 million and has been a revelation for the 14-time European Cup winners.
Aged just 19 and wearing the historic No 5 shirt adorned by club great Zinedine Zidane, Bellingham has been the heartbeat of Real's march to a 35th La Liga crown.
Friday's 1-0 win at Real Sociedad – when Bellingham was only on the bench as he recovered from illness – leaves the club needing just four points from the final five games to reclaim the title from rivals Barcelona.
Bellingham has notched 17 goals in La Liga, two behind Girona's top-scorer Artem Dovbyk, and 21 across competitions; a remarkable achievement for someone who was playing second-tier football in England with Birmingham City four years ago.
"Jude is extraordinary," said Tuchel on Monday. "He was fantastic here in the Bundesliga, how he progressed shows the level of personality he has.
"Everyone who plays for Madrid plays with the pressure of the shirt. He handles it like he's never done anything else."
He has also proven himself someone who thrives on the big stage, twice scoring the winning goal as Real completed a clasico double over Barca, finding the back of the net four times in eight Champions League games while also slotting home coolly during the semi-final penalty shoot-out victory over Manchester City.
And Bellingham has made clear that manager Carlo Ancelotti has been key to his rapid rise this season. “The sign of a good manager is when he makes you believe you are a bit better, gives me the freedom to roam,” Bellingham said. “He’s a top person, makes me feel comfortable.
“He’s been amazing in helping me adapt, understand my potential. I’ve played more of a 10. [At] Dortmund I was deeper and Birmingham all over the place, it’s definitely down to him.”
Next up will be Bellingham's first game up against his national team captain Kane, someone he has played alongside 22 times.
“He's a great player, as I've said before,” Bayern striker Kane said of his England teammate. “Of course, he's had an amazing season himself. But from my point of view, I hope he's quiet in the next two games.”
Real beat Man City on penalties – player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Good stop from Rodrygo but couldn’t stop same player scoring from rebound. Not called into serious action again until penalty save from Modric in shoot-out when Brazilian keeper was also an unlikely scorer. AP -
Back in side after injury but guilty of playing Vinicius onside in run-up to Real’s opener. Helped nullify threat of of the Real attacker, though, matching the Brazilian for pace and strength. AP -
Excellent at the back, rarely troubled although arguably allowed Vinicius too much room to put cross into box for Rodrygo goal and should have closed him down quicker. AF -
Versatile defender regularly found himself pushing into midfield to help with City attacks but wasted one good opportunity when he blazed over bar with teammates better placed. Getty Images -
Scored fine goals in successive games from left-back for City but more focused on defensive duties here which he did with aplomb. Booked for foul on Bellingham. PA -
His usual ultra-reliable self in middle of park breaking down Real attacks and spraying some lovely balls out wide. Took booking for team when he hauled back the speedy Diaz. Lost for first time in 67 City games. AFP -
Stung Lunin’s palms with powerful strike in first half. Buried finish into roof of net to level scores in 76th minute and could have had quickfire hat-trick when he hit two efforts over bar not long after. EPA -
Could only bundle ball wide from a couple of metres out after Haaland’s header rebounded off crossbar in first half. Tried to make things happen but, like City as whole, found it hard to find way through Real defence. Terrible penalty in shoot-out. PA -
Glorious finish in first leg but no sniff of goal here until just before break when he curled shot over bar from 20 metres out. Surprisingly little impact from England attacker but scored in shoot-out. AP -
Struck two efforts straight at keeper in second half and had interesting tussle with Carvajal, with both players booked for fouling each other. AFP -
Two headed chances in first 20 minutes – put one just over, the other bounced off crossbar. No clearcut opportunities after break and taken off by Pep Guardiola at start of extra-time. AP -
SUBS: (On for Grealish 72’) Made instant impact with his pace and direct running. Was his cross that ended with De Bruyne scoring. EPA -
(On for Haaland 91’) Hit shot straight at keeper from tight angle deep into extra-time. Scored in shoot-out. AP -
(On for Akanji 112’) PA -
(On for De Bruyne 112’) Saw penalty saved in shoot-out. EPA -
REAL MADRID RATINGS Regulation saves from Ukrainian until given no chance by De Bruyne’s fine finish for leveller. Never looked comfortable with in-swinging corners and crosses. Saved two poorly struck penalties in shoot-out. AP -
Booked for pulling down Grealish, despite claiming that England winger dived. Coped with threat of Grealish but had tougher time against pace of Doku when City winger was brough on. Limped off with cramp in extra-time. AP -
Had been immaculate at heart of excellent defensive performance but was his poor clearance that handed chance for De Bruyne to level scores. Poked chance wide at end of first-half of extra-time. Scored winner in shoot-out. AP -
Veteran looked like he might score a disastrous own goal just after break when he took ball past own keeper but cleared for corner. But played part in resolute Real defensive display. Scored in shoot-out. AFP -
Had little problems up in first half when he helped keep Foden very quiet and dealt with Silva in second when he switched flanks. Harsh booking for what looked fair tackle on Walker. AP -
Had game’s first effort on goal – curling effort from distance saved comfortably. Excellent pressing when City were in possession but wayward passing gifted ball back to City far too often. Reuters -
Couldn’t handle the surging runs forward by De Bruyne, particularly in first half. Tidy with the ball as usual before being replaced by his old partner in crime Luka Modric. AP -
Fabulous leveller in Madrid but little sniff of goal here but was part of move that ended with Rodrygo scoring. Never shirked in his defensive duties and is such a vital player for Real. AFP -
Key role in build-up to Rodygo’s opener with velvet first touch and turn before supplying pass to Valverde. But attacking influence was kept to minimum as City dominated possession and chances. Calm finish in shoot-out. Reuters -
Big-game scorer who put Real ahead in 12th minute at second time of asking after Ederson saved his first attempt. Saw very little of Brazilian for rest of game although he looked very unimpressed at his late substitution. AFP -
Provided cross for Rodrygo’s goal but was well marked by the City defence and got little or no joy out of Walker. AP -
SUBS: (On for Kroos 79’) Little maestro was brought on with Real struggling to keep possession. Some trademark sublime touches and passes. Missed Real’s opening penalty of shoot-out. PA -
(On for Rodrygo 84’) Flashes of pace from the former Man City player but little impact. Reuters -
(On for Vinicius Junior 103’) Experienced wideman had half a chance in extra-time time but miscued shot wide of target. Scored in shoot-out. PA -
(On for Carvajal 111’) Made a couple of important challenges in short time on pitch. Reuters
