Kane shrugs off late miss and warns England knew second-game curse was coming

Harry Kane refused to dwell on his stoppage-time miss against Ghana after England were held to a 0-0 draw in Boston on Tuesday, revealing he had warned his teammates before the match that a second-game stumble was coming — and that he fully expects to put it right against Panama on Saturday.

The 32-year-old blazed over from seven yards in the closing moments, a chance that would have settled the World Cup Group B fixture, but Kane was measured in his assessment afterwards. “It’s part of a striker’s life,” he said. “I’ve had many chances go my way this year, chances that probably shouldn’t have gone in. Nine times out of 10 I score but in football there is a feeling that it just doesn’t go your way.”

Kane also pointed to the broader picture of England’s performance, noting that Nico O’Reilly had struck the underside of the bar and that Ghana were well-organised throughout. “We had good moments, we controlled their counter well,” he added. “It’s the opposite game to the first one against Croatia.”

The England captain disclosed that he had addressed the squad on Monday, drawing on his experience of three previous major tournaments. “I actually spoke before training and just said, ‘look, in my last three tournaments, we’ve won the first one and drawn the second one — we’ve got to be focused on the occasion ahead’,” Kane explained. England’s draw with Ghana means they have now failed to win their second group game at each of the past four major tournaments.

Manager Thomas Tuchel, speaking at his post-match press conference, admitted he found it difficult to contemplate replacing Kane — who scored twice against Croatia and netted 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season — with Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney. Tuchel also pushed back on suggestions that England are dangerously over-reliant on their captain, a view Kane himself shares despite managing just 19 touches against Ghana — his fewest in a major tournament match for the Three Lions when playing 90 or more minutes.

“I don’t think there is an over-reliance,” Kane said. “Any No 9 at a big team, people expect them to score goals and it’s no different for me. When you don’t, there are a few questions. It is what it is. There were good parts and parts we can improve. It’s nothing to worry about and hopefully we can put it right on Saturday.”