FIFA World Cup 2026: England's Kane admits being inspired by Messi, Haaland's performances
Boston, June 19
Following his side's win over Croatia in the FIFA World Cup campaign opener, England captain Harry Kane admitted to being inspired by the performances of Argentina skipper Lionel Messi, who secured his first-ever WC hat-trick against Algeria, and Norway's Erling Haaland, who scored a brace on his debut at the football's grandest stage.
Kane scored a brace as his side secured a fine 4-2 win over Croatia at Dallas on Thursday.
Following his side's win, Kane, as quoted by Reuters, said, "Obviously, I saw the guys scoring their goals, and I do not like to concentrate too much on other people. But I think it is natural - as a sportsman, as an athlete - to try and reach the highest levels and obviously all those guys started in a great way."
He also pointed to the "hunger and excitement" within the side to be a part of what could be a "special summer" for England footballers.
"You can see the hunger, the desire and excitement from the players to be part of what could be a special summer," Kane said of the squad.
"There's real competition for places, but no negativity, just a shared focus on performing when called upon," he added.
During the match against Croatia, Kane got his 115th international cap, joining England icon David Beckham. The England skipper revealed that he received a text from a legendary footballer after the game.
"David sent me a nice voice note before the game and after the game," said Kane. "He just congratulated me on getting to 115. He said he knows how hard it is to be that consistent and to reach that many caps," Kane signed off.
England will be aiming to get closer to the round of 32 as they continue their campaign with a Group L clash against Boston on Tuesday.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Inspiring to see players like Kane motivated by Messi and Haaland. But honestly, I think the real story here is how Croatia gave them a tough fight! 4-2 sounds easy but Croatia played well too. Glad to see World Cup cricket... I mean football... getting so exciting! 🏆⚽
Kane is a proper leader. But I hope he's not just focused on individual milestones like Beckham's record. Scoring 115 caps is great, but winning the World Cup is what matters for England. Let's see if they can handle the pressure this time. No more 'it's coming home' jinx please! 😅
As a football fan in India, it's amazing to see the World Cup being played in the US. The growing fanbase here is proof that football is truly the global game. Kane's attitude is top-notch - hungry but respectful. Hope we see more Asian representation in future tournaments! 🇮🇳⚽
All this talk about Messi and Haaland... but let's be real, Kane himself is a world-class striker. 115 caps for England is no joke. The hunger in the squad is visible. Just hope the 'special summer' talk doesn't turn into another disappointment for England fans. 🤞
Kane admitting he's inspired by others shows great sportsmanship. But I also think England's defense needs work - Croatia scored 2 goals! They can't rely on Kane's goals alone. Anyway, praying for a India-England friendly match someday... a girl can dream! 🇮🇳❤️⚽
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