Harry Kane is England’s only option for World Cup 2026 with no real alternative as struggling captain set for 100th cap
HE is England’s all-time record goalscorer and Tottenham’s most prolific marksman, too.
He is a Golden Boot winner in the World Cup, Premier League and Bundesliga — and tomorrow night brings another personal accolade for Harry Kane, as he joins England’s 100 club.
Harry Kane was arguably England’s least-effective performer in IrelandGetty
GettyIvan Toney may struggle to force his way back into contention for England while Ollie Watkins, currently injured, is a different type of player to Kane[/caption]
Whether Kane is knackered, struggling for full fitness or simply feeling the effects of footballing old age, there still is every chance he will break Peter Shilton’s long-standing record of 125 appearances to become his nation’s most-capped footballer.
At 31, the captain is here to stay — due to lack of any obvious rival to be England’s first-choice No 9, as well as his own uncanny ability to defy public opinion.
Interim boss Lee Carsley insists Kane continues to be essential to England as he prepares to become only the tenth player to win a century of caps for the Three Lions in the Nations League clash with Finland at Wembley.
Kane is the only specialist centre-forward in the current England squad and there is no genuine long-term rival for his shirt.
Despite a disappointing Euros — in which he never looked fully match sharp — the greatest footballer never to win a trophy is on course to surpass goalkeeper Shilton at some point in 2026.
If you’re supremely optimistic, then there’s a chance he could even do it in a World Cup Final in New Jersey the summer after next.
Kane netted after just 79 seconds of his England debut having just replaced Wayne Rooney during a 4-0 victory over Lithuania.
When Kane scored that header at Wembley, with only his third touch as a full international, Gary Lineker tweeted: “Fifty more touches and Harry Kane will beat Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record.”
Interim chief Lee Carsley says Kane remains integral on and off the pitchGetty
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In fact, Rooney would break Charlton’s 49-goal mark before Kane swiftly replaced the Scouser as England’s leading scorer with his 54th strike for his country in a 2-1 victory over Italy in Naples last year.
Nine-and-a-half years after his debut, Kane stands on 66 goals from 99 matches.
And yet there was little in Saturday’s 2-0 victory over Ireland in Dublin to suggest that Kane is over the summer malaise which saw him operating well below his best in Germany and being hauled off after an hour of the final defeat by Spain.
The striker failed to convert a free header from an early Trent Alexander-Arnold cross.
And while he looked slightly more mobile than in the Euros, he remained way short of his sharpest — arguably the least convincing player in an impressive team performance.
The Bayern Munich star is adamant no physical issues were holding him back during the tournament, despite a back problem at the tail of the Bundesliga season.
Few people believe him.
But Carsley insists Kane will continue to be a crucial member of the England side way beyond his own six-match autumn audition to become Gareth Southgate’s full-time successor.
Carsley said: “On and off the pitch he’s a really good example.
“Every single day, he is highly motivated to do well and you can see that from how he conducts himself.
“He will be invaluable in my short space of time but also moving forward.”
And where would Carsley — or whoever else might manage England in next year’s World Cup qualifiers — look to replace Kane?
Had Ivan Toney made a summer transfer to a leading Premier League club, he may have become a genuine alternative.
But his move from Brentford to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League removes any serious chance of that.
There is no young gunslinger looking to bring down Kane and so there look certain to be many more caps after he wins his 100th.
Ollie Watkins — currently injured — provided England’s moment of the summer with a stunning 90th-minute winner in the Euros semi-final against Holland.
But the Aston Villa striker turns 29 this year and is a very different sort of player to Kane. It is difficult to imagine him usurping the skipper.
While Carsley is introducing the next generation of England talent, based around the Under-21 team he led to the European Championship crown last year, there is no authentic centre-forward among that crop.
In the final victory over Spain, Carsley employed Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon as a pair of ‘false nines’.
There is no young gunslinger looking to bring down Kane and so there look certain to be many more caps to come after he wins his 100th against the Finns at Wembley.
That 100 club — with the addition of Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, who is joint 11th on the all-time appearance list with 90 caps — works into a perfect fantasy XI in a 4-4-2 formation.
Shilton would be in goal with Walker, Bobby Moore, Billy Wright and Ashley Cole making up the back four.
David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Charlton would be in front of them, with Rooney and Kane making up the front two.
GettyKane will surely break his trophy duck this season, his second at Bayern[/caption]
That would be quite some team — even if we would still have to solve the conundrum of Gerrard and Lampard playing together.
But among such company, Kane’s lack of silverware becomes even more glaring.
Moore and Charlton were World Cup winners, eight of those players have won the European Cup, eight have been champions of England and most have shed-loads of winner’s medals.
Kane will surely break his duck with Bayern this season.
Although we said that last term, when he arrived at a club which had won 11 consecutive Bundesliga crowns, yet drew a spectacular blank.
A runner-up in the European Championships (twice), the Champions League, the Premier League and the League Cup (twice), Kane has walked past more major trophies than he would care to remember without ever actually lifting one.
His personal achievements, and the absence of a major team honour, make his an extremely unusual career.
But a career which is set to run and run. Even if Kane is never able to run and run quite like he used to.
England Player Ratings vs Ireland
DECLAN RICE silenced his Irish critics with a dominant display in England’s Nations League opener.
Lee Carsley‘s players handed him a debut win as interim manager of the Three Lions.
Rice starred in the first half as he netted the opener and then set up England‘s second goal.
Jack Grealish doubled up for England after being set up by Rice 15 minutes later.
Anthony Gordon however faded in the match as he was not able to have as much success as Grealish.
SunSport’s Charlie Wyett has rated England’s players’ performance against Ireland…
JORDAN PICKFORD – 6
Pushed away a half decent shot from Sammie Szmodics at the start of the game but as England took control, he had a stress-free game.
After a difficult couple of weeks with Everton, he would have been grateful for this.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD – 7
Looked more at home at right-back compared to the disastrous midfield experiment at the Euros.
Stunning pass in a move that eventually led to the first goal. He has to remain as England’s right-back.
MARC GUEHI – 7
Enjoyed a decent Euros and switched over to the right of central defence as John Stones was named on the bench.
Looks increasingly like a top-drawer defender.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 7
Was left devastated after failing to make the Euro 2024 squad but he has enjoyed a decent start with Manchester United and looked solid here.
When he is not in the team, England do miss his aerial presence. 7
LEVI COLWILL – 7
Second appearance for England and was deployed at left-back.
Unlike the Euros, England have much better balance in defence with a natural left footer in this position. 7
DECLAN RICE – 9
Enjoyed an absolute stormer in what could have been a difficult afternoon.
Booed every time he touched the ball, the former Irish international quietened the boisterous home fans with a brilliant finish although refused to celebrate.
He then set up the second for Grealish.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Fits perfectly into Carsley’s style of play. Some of his passing was excellent, particularly in the final third of the pitch, and this included his part in the outstanding second goal.
BUKAYO SAKA – 7
Enjoying a terrific start to the season with Arsenal – he has been nominated as their player of the month – and played with plenty of confidence here.
Was involved in the second goal.
JACK GREALISH – 8
Left out of the Euros squad, but loved every minute of this.
A decent finish for 2-0 and unlike Rice, celebrated in front of the visiting fans by raising both arms in triumph.
ANTHONY GORDON – 6
Looked really lively early on but faded.
He should have put England ahead when clean through but was lucky that seconds later, Rice hammered his shot into the corner. 6
HARRY KANE – 6
Missed with a header and despite working hard, did not actually have that many chances despite England having so much possession.
Subs
Gibbs-White (for Grealish 77 mins) 6, Gomes (for Mainoo 77) 6, Eze (for Gordon 77 mins) 6, Bowen (for Kane 84 mins) 6, Stones (for Maguire 85) 6.
Subs not used: Henderson, Pope, Lewis, Gallagher, Livramento, Konsa, Madueke.
