Don't let Kane and England be overlooked

It's always the name that gets overlooked. This came to mind yesterday as we selected our Team of the Tournament for the opening round of the World Cup. He doesn't possess the aura of Mbappé or Haaland, and certainly not the even more dazzling presence of Messi. So, even though someone suggested, 'Kane could also be in there' (and I confess, it wasn't me), he once again missed out.

Good old Harry Kane had an incredible season, perhaps his best, but undoubtedly one of the finest of his career. Playing for a Bayern side that ultimately fell short of continental glory, yet threatened it enough to be considered among the top three (or even two) contenders, he scored 61 goals in 51 appearances. While he only registered seven assists, he was instrumental in countless attacks, often dropping deep into midfield or even further back, transitioning in seconds from a 'wide receiver' to a 'quarterback' – if we can momentarily blend the two sports. And that wasn't all. He offered a great deal to the Bavarians defensively, never worrying that it might deplete his energy for his primary role as a prolific goalscorer.

It's because of Harry, but also the rest of the England squad, which boasts one of the best rosters in the entire World Cup. They've long threatened to bring a major trophy home – 4th in the 2018 World Cup, European Championship runners-up in 2020 and 2024. Add to that the tactical vision and organization from the dugout, courtesy of German mastermind Thomas Tuchel, and we cannot exclude the Three Lions from the list of favorites. A team with Kane, but also Bellingham, Rice, Anderson, Gordon, Saka, and Rashford, is halfway to winning almost every match.