Harry Kane’s paradoxical footballing career

THE IMAGE OF Harry Kane, head in hands, following England’s World Cup quarter-final defeat is emblematic of his career. In the 54th minute a confidently struck penalty brought his team level with France and made Mr Kane England’s joint top goal-scorer, matching Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals. But, like so many times before, his efforts were not quite enough.

With six minutes of the match to go Mr Kane placed the ball 12 yards away from Hugo Lloris, the French goalkeeper and his teammate at Tottenham Hotspur, his London club, for a second time. Such is his potency from the spot that England fans cheered the awarding of the penalty as if it had already been scored. But this time his strike was high and wide. England, and Mr Kane, leave another tournament empty handed.