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NO POT LUCK
Trophyless Harry Kane really IS starting to look cursed as England captain’s horror Euro 2024 final stats revealed
Scroll down to see how we rated the Three Lions players
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IT now seems as though he really is cursed. Along with the rest of us.
Tragically, unbelievably, Harry Kane’s agonising search for a trophy still continues and you know have to wonder whether he will ever actually manage it.
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Certainly for England, in any case.
Kane has now suffered defeat in three major club finals and two finals of the European Championships.
Last night, the Three Lions captain was so ineffective that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour.
Like much of this tournament, he really struggled to make an impact when England needed him, not that he had much service.
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He had one shot in the first half and that was blocked by Rodri, who subsequently injured himself and went off at the break.
When Cole Palmer struck that brilliant equaliser, Kane was off on his feet from the bench, only for the national team to get another kick in the bo**ocks at the end.
Kane was substituted in both the games against Switzerland and Holland which England went on to win but on this occasion, he could only witness a gut-wrenching twist just when it looked as though Gareth Southgate’s team had dug their way out of trouble.
The Bayern Munich striker suffered the World Cup 2018 semi-final loss against Croatia, endured heartbreak against Italy in the Euro 2020 final and then missed from the spot in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.
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He really thought that this was his time, even though England did not play well in Germany.
Despite not winning anything with Bayern last season, Kane will surely end that drought next time around.
Heartache for England as Spain clinch Euro 2024 with late winner
Kane will know that he will have more opportunities with England. But not many more.
The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico seems a long way away and it will surely be under a new manager. Will England be better than they are now? Probably not.
Kane, who had 66 goals in his previous 97 appearances for England, once again seemed to be playing at 80 per cent.
Throughout this tournament, Kane had not looked completely fit. Although he struck 44 goals for Bayern, he suffered a back injury ahead of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid and had not been right since.
Throughout his time at the Euros, Kane insisted he was fit but he was never going to say he wasn’t.
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Possibly, at the start of next season, Kane will admit that maybe, on reflection, he was nowhere near his best.
But it is such an unbelievable shame. Even there is one person in football, more than anyone who deserves to win something, particularly for his country, it is Kane.
As an eight-year-old, he would watch games at the Sirloin pub in Chingford, along with father Pat, mum Kim and brother Charlie.
Sometimes, the boys would go with their faces painted. After an England defeat, Harry would cry.
And here in Berlin, every Englishman was crying - or felt like doing so.
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Kane was PFA young player of the year in 2014-15 before winning the Premier League’s Golden Boot in 2016, 2017 and 2021. He did the same in Germany with Bayern.
Here inside the Olympiastadion on Saturday night, Kane said he would swap them all for an individual success but it was not to be.
Even when he moved to Bayern, almost comically, Kane lost out on a trophy in his first game - the German Super Cup. And then he ended up winning nothing as his club were embarrassed in the Bundesliga by shock winners Bayer Leverkusen.
In those early days as a professional, struggling to make his name in stints on loan at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester, the chances of him becoming England’s top scorer seemed utterly unthinkable.
Kane’s senior England career started nine years ago in a 4-0 win over Lithuania aged 21 and seven months - which is younger than Jude Bellingham is now - but he has become the figurehead of this team under Southgate. But for how much longer, remains to be seen.
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Kane has spoken about him now having “an aura” since moving to Bayern, something which was not exactly the case when he failed to set the world alight with his loan stints before establishing himself at Tottenham.
But at Spurs, the trophies he craved, failed to materialise.
Spurs finished third in a two-horse race in 2016 when Leicester shocked the world. Tottenham were bridesmaids to Chelsea 12 months later.
Kane also lost EFL Cup finals with Spurs in 2015 and 2021. Also in 2019 when he failed to make his mark in the Champions league final when Spurs lost to Liverpool. Kane, having missed six weeks of the season with an ankle injury, was clearly not fit.
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Since working with Canadian-based Spanish sports medicine specialist Dr Alejandro Elorriaga Claraco, Kane’s injury problems had been rare - until that injury at Bayern in April.
And now, we are all left to wonder how much better England would have been with a fit and firing Kane at his very best.
England ratings: Palmer the super sub but captain Kane struggles yet again in Spain heartbreak
COLE PALMER came off the bench to be England’s star man - but his heroics were unable to stop heartbreak against Spain, writes Tom Barclay.
Mikel Oyarzabal struck a late dagger through the hearts of the Three Lions to seal a 2-1 Spanish victory.
And that ensured that 58 years of hurt will go on.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated each England player in the crushing defeat:
Jordan Pickford: 8
Carefully controlled a blast of a backpass from John Stones on his line in the first half. Could do little to stop Williams’ opener but made two terrific stops to deny Yamal, only for Oyarzabal to poke home at the death.
Kyle Walker: 6
Had his hands full with Williams but managed the Spanish livewire pretty well but could not get near his powerful opener.
John Stones: 8
A colossus again as he played every single minute of this Euros, despite lack of Manchester City game-time. Superb block on early Williams shot, was often in the right place at the right time and at one point dribbled all the way up the pitch.
Marc Guehi: 6
Solid alongside Stones and overall it has been a brilliant first tournament for the Crystal Palace star. But Oyarzabal nicked in front of him for the winner.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Most consistent attacker for England across the tournament and had a good battle with pantomime villain Marc Cucurella here. It was his cross that Bellingham laid off for Palmer to work his magic.
Declan Rice: 7
Went past his boss Gareth Southgate’s cap haul by winning his 58th here and he is still only 25. Was in the thick of it in the midfield battle throughout.
Kobbie Mainoo: 5
Just 19 and starting a major final for England in the middle of midfield. Fewer bursts forward though than in recent games as his side struggled for possession and was subbed for Palmer as Southgate searched for a leveller.
Luke Shaw: 7
Looked so sharp for a player making his first start since Luton away on February 10, winning his battle against Lamine Yamal in the first half. But Yamal got the better of him after the break to tee up Williams’ opener.
Phil Foden: 6
Out of possession it was his job to man-mark Manchester City colleague Rodri, until the Spanish maestro went off injured at half-time. Had a half-chance just before the break but could not beat Unai Simon.
Jude Bellingham: 7
Shunted wide left when England did not have the ball - which was a lot of the time. Riskily flew into a few tackles, but it was his clever lay-off that teed up Palmer.
Harry Kane: 4
His lack of involvement was summed up by England fans calling for Ollie Watkins in the 57th minute. They got their wish on the hour.
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Ollie Watkins: 6
Semi-final hero was introduced far earlier here to get some legs in behind, though he did not have too much impact this time.
Cole Palmer: 9
What an impact after emerging with just twenty minutes to go. Yet another of Southgate’s subs paid off handsomely as Palmer curled a peach of an equaliser with 17 minutes remaining, sending most of the Olympiastadion potty.
Ivan Toney: 6
Thrown on right at the end but could not make an impact.
Gareth Southgate: 7
The game was a chess match for the first half and Southgate was never going to go early with his bold moves.
His subs were excellent to be fair, with Palmer brilliantly getting his team back into it.
Critics will say England did not play attacking enough but Spain are one hell of a side - and Southgate’s men pushed them all the way.
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