Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane conducted an in-depth interview with the official Bundesliga channel, and this part focuses on topics related to England and the World Cup.
As the captain of this England team, you have achieved what previous generations failed to do. Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, what goals remain unfulfilled? How would you define this phase?
"I think we've reached a stage now where only winning the championship will truly satisfy ourselves and the entire country. A similar situation already existed at the last European Championship. We reached the final, but there were still a lot of negative voices from the outside world. We are well aware that these voices will not disappear unless we win the championship, and that's exactly what happened—it's part of football.
Since 2018, we have been continuously accumulating successful experiences: World Cup semi-finals, European Championship finals, quarter-finals, and then finals again. We have stood at the door time and time again, always maintaining the standard of a world-top team. Therefore, before this major tournament, there will naturally be expectations from the outside world for us.
Currently, we are ranked fourth in the world, and people regard us as one of the favorites to win the championship. We must face this squarely, bring this expectation into the tournament, and learn to bear this pressure. Over the past eight years, as a national team, we have experienced many wonderful moments, but ultimately, now is the time to win. We are eager to win the most important trophy, and we are fully capable of doing so. What we need to do next is to seize the opportunity at critical moments.
I am looking forward to such a challenge. Whenever a major tournament comes, it is the pinnacle of your career, and it is also the moment when pressure, expectations and excitement reach their peak at the same time. I am looking forward to seeing how I and the team will cope with all this."
Can you talk about the significance of being the captain of the England team? Are there moments when you allow the child within you to jump out and realize 'I actually did it'?
"That's an interesting point you bring up, because my wife and I just talked about this topic the night before last or the night before that. We talked about how, compared to some teammates and the young players around me now, I really feel that I'm not young anymore. We also talked about Michael Olise at that time, because he just turned 24, and I became the captain of the England team when I was 24.
When you are in it, sometimes you don't realize that you are actually still very young. We also had our first child when we were 24. Looking back now, some friends are just starting to build their families, and I realize that we were really young at that time.
At that stage, you sometimes don't fully realize what you are doing and how young you were then. Playing for England has always been my dream, and being the captain of the England team is the highest honor of my career.
I have been a die-hard England fan since I was a child, even more so than a club fan. Therefore, this has always been an achievement I have longed to achieve, and I am lucky to have held this role for a long time. Time passes quickly, but every time I put on the captain's armband and lead my teammates onto the pitch, I feel extremely proud. I never take any of this for granted and deeply understand its weight. Being able to continue as captain is a great luck for me."
