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Harry Kane 'the best in the world' as England record-breaker is given ovation by teammates

talksport.com, 23 March 2023, 23:25
Harry Kane is a record breaker in an England shirt, but what's most frightening is that he's nowhere near done.

The England captain bagged his 54th goal for his country from the penalty spot in their 2-1 victory over Italy in Naples.

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That goal was enough to see the Tottenham star surpass Wayne Rooney's tally of 53 and ensure that his name is written clearly in the record books.

At 29 years of age, Kane has the opportunity to add even more goals to his international tally, while also adding to his legacy within the game.

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But while it was a night that will be remembered for Kane's achievement, the striker himself is still keen to focus more on the positive result for England.

He said during the post-match press conference: "I think it [winning] makes it that bit more special, for sure.

"Breaking the goalscoring record was always going to be a proud moment no matter what the circumstances, but for sure it feels that bit sweeter when you win and especially with our first win against Italy in a long, long time.

"It's an amazing, amazing night.

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"It was a really tough game. It had to be a penalty - I had a feeling that it would - but that's why you practice, that's why you keep your head down, for those moments. I prepared well for it and thankfully put it away."

After missing a decisive penalty during England's World Cup quarter-final defeat against France, Kane clearly felt that he had a point to prove when he picked up the ball from the penalty spot in Naples.

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Southgate believes it was a fitting way to break the England goalscoring record and exorcise the demons of Qatar as he revealed the rousing reception Kane received from his teammates in the dressing room after the match.

He told talkSPORT: "Firstly, the players gave him a fantastic ovation so they recognise not only the history and what an achievement it is, but also the recent history and to take the penalty like he did and finishing it that way.

"There was something fitting about that, without a doubt.

"I'm so pleased for him and his family. They're brilliant people, he's a fantastic professional, he's been a great captain and to be at this point at the age that he is with a lot of time to go is incredible really."

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Declan Rice also got on the scoresheet against Italy, but while he'll have been delighted to have found the net himself, the West Ham star was full of praise for Kane, calling him 'the best in the world'.

Rice told talkSPORT: "You could see how happy everyone was for him. You see from that penalty who he is and how he is as a person - to step up and put the ball away under that pressure, that's who Harry Kane is.

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"He works every day in training and he's always out there. He's always reliable, always gives 110 per cent and that's why he's the best in the world.

"It's why he's got 54 goals for England and now he can go and break whatever he wants - if he wants 75 or 100, I'm sure he isn't going to stop until he gets more goals.

"What a player he's been for England, it's been a real honour to play with him."

Of course many will ask the question of just how many goals Kane will be able to get in an England shirt, but while the striker is coy in his response, it's clear that he's confident of putting the ball in the net for many years to come.

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Kane explained: "I don't like to look too far into the future because a lot can happen in football, but I'm 29 years old.

"I'm feeling fit, I'm feeling strong and feeling probably the best that I've felt in my career so far so I hope I have many more years.

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"Playing for England is probably my greatest feeling in football and I want to do it for as long as possible.

"For sure, as a striker I want to score in every game and we'll enjoy this one but get ready for Sunday [against Ukraine] because we've got to make sure we win that one to make it a really good camp.

"Hopefully there'll be many more, but we'll just have to wait and see."

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