MILAN:
Harry Kane is set to break England’s all-time goalscoring record in his side’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy, officials. Gareth Southgate said on Wednesday.
Tottenham forward Kane is tied with Wayne Rooney on 53 goals for his country after missing a penalty in England’s World Cup quarter-final in France.
But Southgate said he put that disappointment behind him in Thursday’s Group C clash in Naples.
“We’ve seen his performances and the goals and his club he’s put behind him,” Southgate told reporters.
“I know he’ll be extra motivated tomorrow night to come back and show everyone what he’s got in a England shirt For us that’s a good situation.”
England have a poor record against the world’s top teams and Thursday will be a tough test against the team that robbed them of the Euro 2020 trophy at Wembley before abandoning it in them in the second division of the League of Nations.
“We’ve been in some of the biggest games in world football, they know the level that’s required, they know they have the ability to compete at that level,” added Southgate.
“Whatever we have done in the past will not be effective tomorrow, because we must start again and have the humility to work hard to qualify again, and This is a good opportunity for us to do this.
“Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup but they still have great performances and they will be very strong.”
According to West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, the narrow defeat to France in Qatar did not discourage England from hoping for the great success of the tournament which has eluded them for almost sixty years.
“I think if we look at ourselves after that France game, we took a lot of good things out of the game even though we lost,” Rice said.
“I think as a group of players there was a real belief in the room that we can compete with the best but it’s down to us now to move forward. one step – defeat a superior kingdom, and win a trophy.
“That’s the only thing on our mind, starting tomorrow night, is to try to beat Italy and start our campaign well.”
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