Keane urges Kane to ditch deep-lying role and stay sharp for World Cup heat

Roy Keane has urged Harry Kane to strip his game back to basics at the World Cup, warning the England captain that dropping deep to link play could cost him — and his country — in the tournament’s gruelling conditions.

Kane scored the only goal as England beat New Zealand on Saturday, but it was his tendency to drift beyond the halfway line that drew Keane’s attention. The former Manchester United captain, speaking as a pundit, argued that with enough quality around him in the squad, Kane should trust his teammates to do the creative work and focus his energy on finishing.

“Be smart enough with your position,” Keane said. “He’s got to be sensible — we’re talking about the conditions. He doesn’t need to be coming back beyond the halfway line trying to spray balls. There’s enough players who can do that and enough quality. You get yourself in there — you’re the best in the world at this moment in time. If England want to win the big trophy, he’s going to be your main man.”

Keane also acknowledged how Kane’s experience at Bayern Munich, particularly in the Champions League, should help him manage those demands. “He has to have that experience now, and maybe he’s learnt a lot more playing for Bayern in those big Champions League games,” he added.

Kane arrives at the tournament in the form of his life. The Bayern Munich striker scored 61 goals for his club last season, breaking numerous records, and is among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or — an award that a strong World Cup showing could all but seal.

For England, his importance is beyond question. He is the nation’s record goalscorer, and his best World Cup performance to date came in 2018, when he reached the semi-finals and won the Golden Boot.

Kane himself has pushed back on concerns about the heat, insisting the conditions will not be the decisive factor many are predicting. “The drinks breaks help. A lot of people are talking about the heat but I don’t think it’s going to be as big a factor as what some people say,” he said. “Me personally and a few of the boys who have been training for a while in it felt fine. We’re all athletes, we’re all professionals and have played in warm weather conditions before.”