The England captain twice played from the point in the quarter-finals against France. He scored safely from the first penalty, leveling Wayne Rooney’s record scorer. At the second attempt, Kane’s nerves gave out – and England lost.
Wembley Stadium, 27 March 2015: England played Lithuania in the Euro 2016 qualifier. It was 3-0 for the hosts when Wayne Rooney, the scorer of the first goal, was substituted. He was replaced by a 21-year-old Tottenham Hotspur striker: Harry Kane.
It took less than 80 seconds and he scored in his debut for the “Three Lions”. After a Raheem Sterling cross, Kane headed the ball into the bottom right corner. His first goal in the first game marked the beginning of a great national team career.
Only one goal was missing on Rooney
Al Bayt Stadium, December 10, 2022: Harry Kane captained his team for seven and a half years and 79 international matches. In the quarterfinals it was against the reigning world champion from France. After fourth place in 2018 and second place in the European Championship in 2021, expectations were high.
For Harry Kane, this game had another meaning: he was able to draw level with Wayne Rooney as the English record scorer. He scored 53 goals in 120 games. Kane went into his 80th appearance with 52 goals.
Kane draws level with Rooney
Harry Kane is considered a reliable penalty taker: he had only missed three goals with the national team. So there was no question that the captain would take penalties when England fell behind – as in this quarter-final.
In the 51st minute Saka was fouled by Tchouameni, Kane put the ball around and converted the penalty safely against his Tottenham colleague Hugo Lloris. tie with France. Tie with Wayne Rooney.
Harry Kane celebrates after the first penalty.
Then the nerves give out
France fought back and took the lead again through Olivier Giroud. Theo Hernandez’s foul on Mason Mount in the 82nd minute gave Kane another chance to score from the point. For rebalancing. For leadership in the record goalscorers list.
Kane ran into Lloris – and chased the ball over the bar. He failed to score the 54th goal. The French still had the advantage. The English had little time left. They didn’t use them.
Harry Kane misses the second penalty.
As in the 2021 European Championship final – when they lost to Italy on penalties – a missed penalty symbolizes the failure of the “Three Lions”. The tournament is over for the English.
After kick-off, Kane went down. The cameras wanted to capture the disappointed striker. But England keeper Jordan Pickford sent her away. Kane’s suffering was too great for him to show in close-up.
Rooney comforts and congratulates
After the game, Kane’s teammate Jordan Henderson defended his captain: “How many did he hit for us? How many penalties? How many goals? He’s a world-class striker. I can’t imagine our team without him.“
Words of support also came from who Kane so tragically drew level with. Rooney wrote on Twitter how sad, how bitterly disappointed – and yet he was proud of the team. He congratulated Kane for equalizing his old record: “You’ll soon be the only one there and I couldn’t think of a better successor.”
Rooney also had simple but comforting words for Harry Kane about the missed penalty: “Cheer up, Harry.”