World Cup 2026: Why Harry Kane is different at this World Cup – Alan Shearer

It took Harry Kane four games and 269 minutes to hit the target at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

He looked tired at the start of that tournament and I felt he needed a rest after England’s first two matches.

This time things could not be more different – he will be on top of the world after scoring twice in the game Croatia won 4-2.

One thing you want to do as a striker in any big tournament is get off to a good start.

I was lucky enough to turn out for England in our first World Cup match in 1998 when we beat Tunisia.

Honestly, it was a huge relief – not only did I beat the team, but I scored myself as captain and top scorer when everyone else was looking to me to score.

For the same reasons, I know Kane feels exactly the same after the way he played on Wednesday.

He had to sit and watch all the games with the rest of the England team all week watching top stars like Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, Norwegian Erling Haaland and Argentinian Lionel Messi scoring not only one goal but at least 2 goals.

Kane was absolutely desperate to join the party and get off the field in the first game too, so to do that after 12 minutes and go for another is huge for him and for England.

Kane finally found the back of the net in Qatar and scored against Senegal in the last 16.

This time he’s got that good feeling from the start, and we’ve seen what he does when that happens – in Russia 2018, Kane scored five goals in England’s first two games to send them on their way. To the golden boot And help us reach the semi-finals.

With our toughest game away in Group L and Ghana and Panama next, his eyes must be shining.