Harry Kane has declared that leading England to victory at Euro 2024 would be the “most incredible feeling” a footballer can experience, as he aims to end his personal wait for a major trophy.
The England captain, who has scored over 400 goals for club and country, has yet to claim any team silverware in his illustrious career. However, that could all change on Sunday when England faces Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
“It’s no secret that I haven’t won a team trophy,” Kane said at a pre-match press conference on Saturday. “Every year that goes by, you’re more motivated and you’re more determined to change that. Tomorrow night I have the opportunity to win one of the biggest trophies you could ever win and to make history with my nation. I’d swap everything in my career to have a special night and a win tomorrow evening.”
Kane was on the losing side three years ago when England fell to Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. Now, reaching their first-ever final on foreign soil, the Bayern Munich striker believes his team is fueled by the pain of that previous defeat.
“It would be, obviously, the most incredible feeling as a professional footballer you can get and I’m sure also for the fans,” he said. “To have that moment in history and to be able to celebrate, that would be something very special. We’ve been here before and it was a tough finish in the last Euros. So there’s that extra hunger and fire in the belly to make sure this one goes our way.”
England and Spain have had contrasting journeys to the final. Spain has looked a class apart in Germany, eliminating the hosts, France, Italy, and Croatia, becoming the first side to win all of their first six games at a European Championship.
England, on the other hand, has had to battle back in all three of their knockout matches against Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, often relying on late goals and a penalty shootout against the Swiss in the quarterfinals.
Despite not always delivering on the full potential of their richly talented squad, Kane believes England’s resilience has fostered greater belief that their time has come.
“You have to have a belief you can win it, otherwise there’s no point in being in the tournament,” he added. “I think that belief has grown as we’ve gone through the tournament. What we’ve been through with the late goals and the penalty shootout and all that stuff builds resilience and builds belief.”
As England prepares for the showdown in Berlin, the nation waits in hope that Kane and his teammates can end a 58-year drought and become European champions for the first time.
Reference(s):
Kane would swap career of personal glory to win Euros with England
cgtn.com
