Why Harry Kane is different at this World Cup

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: Why Kane is different at this World CupPublished35 minutes agoIt took Harry Kane four games and 269 minutes to even manage a shot on target at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He looked tired early in that tournament and I felt he needed a rest after England's first two matches. Things could not be more different this time - he will be on top of the world after scoring twice in the 4-2 win against Croatia.

As a striker, the one thing you desperately want to do at any major tournament is get off to a good start. I was lucky enough to do that myself for England when we beat Tunisia in our first game at the 1998 World Cup. Honestly, it was a massive relief - not only for the team to get the win, but to get on the scoresheet myself, as captain and our main goalscorer, when everyone was looking at me to deliver.

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For all the same reasons, I know Kane will be feeling exactly the same way after the way he played on Wednesday. He had to sit all week with the rest of the England squad and watch all the other games, seeing superstars like France's Kylian Mbappe, Norway's Erling Haaland and Argentina's Lionel Messi get up and running, not just with one goal but by scoring at least two. Kane would have been absolutely desperate to join the party and get off the mark in his first game too, so to do that after only 12 minutes and go on to get another one as well, is huge for him - and for England.

When Kane finally got a shot on target in Qatar, in the last 16 against Senegal, he scored. This time he has got that feel-good factor from the very start, and we've already seen what he does when that happens - at Russia in 2018, Kane scored five goals in England's first two games to send him on his way to the Golden Boot and help us reach the semi-finals. With arguably our toughest game in Group L out of the way and Ghana and Panama next, his eyes must be lighting up.

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Before Kane scored with this shot against Senegal, he had had five shots in total in the four games he had played at that World Cup - he has already had seven from one game so far this time - although in 2022 he did make three assists in the group stage (two versus Iran and one against Wales)'Kane looks fitter and stronger than before'As well as his goals, it's brilliant to see Kane looking in peak condition. After his slow start in Qatar, I didn't think he was 100% fit at Euro 2024 either, and we also struggled to get the best out of him at that tournament because of the way the team was set up. Then, whenever he dropped deep to get on the ball, there was no-one up front for him, or anyone else, to find with an out-ball.

He also brought an extra defender back with him into midfield too, so there was less room and time for England in those areas. Now, under Thomas Tuchel, it's different. England are using Kane a lot like Bayern Munich do.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.