MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Harry Kane downplayed the ongoing comparisons to Erling Haaland on Friday, expressing confidence that England is prepared to hit their stride in the latter stages of the World Cup.
The Three Lions are set to face Norway at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, aiming for a place in the semifinals. Both Kane and Haaland are in contention for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
France‘s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina‘s Lionel Messi are leading the scoring charts with eight goals each, while Haaland has netted seven and Kane follows closely with six.
When asked who he thought was the better player, Kane stated: “It’s an impossible question for me to answer. We’re quite different players. Though we are both regarded as strikers, we actually play very different roles.”
“Erling has been outstanding with his goal-scoring ability. Physically, he’s a machine; a beast. His finishing skills are top-notch, and his goal-scoring records speak volumes.”
This season, Kane has scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England, while Haaland netted 46 times and clinched the Premier League Golden Boot with Manchester City for the third time in four years.
“I view myself as a different type of player, even if I score similar goals,” Kane remarked. “I prefer to get more touches on the ball and be more involved in the gameplay, though I can also play as a traditional nine. It’s not fair to compare us directly.”
“I have immense respect for him as a player and a professional. Of course, I’m hoping he has an off day tomorrow. His performances in recent years speak volumes. He’s a fantastic athlete.”
England had a shaky start in Group L, needing late goals from Kane to overcome Congo DR, but they achieved a remarkable 3-2 victory against Mexico at Azteca Stadium in the round of 16.
Kane noted, “Everyone aspires to start the tournament perfectly. Ideally, you’d win every match comfortably and play mesmerizing football, but that’s rarely the reality. History indicates that those who win major tournaments seldom have a seamless journey.”
“Now, as we enter the quarterfinals, we need to showcase our best selves and reach the levels as a team that we have yet to achieve in this tournament.”
“This is the moment to demonstrate that. We have a tight schedule with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals happening within a week, so it’s crucial that our squad is ready to make an impact.”
During training on Friday at Inter Miami CF‘s facility, the players were greeted by former England captain and current co-owner David Beckham, who spent some time with them before practice.
Kane also confirmed President Donald Trump’s earlier announcement that he had played golf with the striker. “I did play quite well, to be honest. About 18 months ago, he invited me to play while I was in Palm Beach. Meeting him and playing golf was surreal for me.”
“His golf game is actually quite good. I hope to be able to play that well when I’m his age, for sure. It was an exceptional experience, and I’m very grateful for the invitation.”