England vs. Czech Republic: Why is Harry Kane approaching his heyday for England and Tottenham

We do not feel like a long time ago when Harry Kane broke into the English team. In fact, less than four years ago, Roy Hodgson had for the first time summoned the 21-year-old gangster on his team. Kane was summoned for his qualifying debut against Lithuania at Wembley, replacing Wayne Rooney. And 79 seconds and three hits later, he scored his first goal with England heading towards center Raheem Sterling.

We all know what happened at Euro 2016 and, of course, at the 2018 World Cup where Kane won the Golden Shoe. But as Kane prepares to begin his last international round at Wembley on Friday night, against the Czech Republic on the road to Euro 2020, it's already time to wonder if Kane could reach his pinnacle as a footballer. elite.

Kane has continued to progress steadily as a player since his international debut, although injuries have kept him from reaching the 30-goal level of the Premier League this season. He is stronger and leaner than he was when he arrived in high-level football, better able to contain defenders. His left foot finish is better after years of hard work. His networked and creative player is more accurate and smarter than ever, as he has shown for the Spurs and England this year. His commitment to perfecting himself remains as strong as ever and he will not stop trying to push the boundaries of his own game.

But all careers have ups and downs, and it is more likely that we are in the second phase than in the first. Especially as in Euro 2020, when Kane hopes to lead England to Wembley, he will turn 26, when most attackers expect to be at their best. At the time of the Qatar World Cup in November 2022, Kane will be 29 years old and who knows how he will manage, as well as England and the Spurs.

Given the age of Kane, Wembley and Qatar, the next 15 months could be his best chance to win a big international trophy. So does he feel like being at his peak, ready for his best chance?

"It's hard to say," Kane said at his press conference in St George's Park on Tuesday afternoon. "At 26, it's a bit on the border. Maybe 26, 29, 30. Nowadays, with everything, the science of sport, I think the best may be a little later, the late twenties. I hope I'm 28 or 30, maybe that's when you'll be in your prime. "

Kane has seen how Cristiano Ronaldo has kept his heyday between 20 and 30 years and hopes to stay at the highest level as long as he can. Until the Qatar World Cup, the Euro 2024 in Germany and beyond. "If you keep fit, Ronaldo has proven it, as well as Messi and his players. I still have a little to do. 26 years old is not too old. We feel old in this team, but I would like to think that, a few years later, I will be in my strength.

So, while Kane may be entering his youth, he does not want to see things that way. All he wants is to continue to improve and continue to score, and leave the badysis until the end.

"It's hard to say," he said, when asked if it was his best performance. "You do not really know until you look at your career, through the years and see when you play at your best, I feel better every year, and this year I've improved too. would like to think that in a few years I will be in my strength, but again, you do not really know. "

Of course, 2018 was a great year for Kane's career, winning the Golden Boot in Russia, a feat that will follow him forever. But what is missing in his career is still a major team trophy, and the final phase of the League of Nations in Porto gives him another chance. Beat Holland, then Portugal or Switzerland, and Kane will raise the trophy, which will give him something that he has not yet tasted in his career. And that would be the peak of his career so far.

"Hope we can win silverware," Kane said. "If we win the League of Nations, 2019 will be at the top [2018]. I've already said that to have a chance to win a trophy under an English jersey, it's not [something that happens] very often. If we are going to have a good summer and win this trophy, in my eyes it is a better year. Of course, 2018 has been fantastic, but for me, the bottom line is the team and we want to win. "

Whatever happens in Guimarães and Porto, Kane's international career will probably be defined by what will happen at Wembley in the summer of 2020. What better moment to reach its peak? "We know that the chance to play a euro where most games are at home is an incredible opportunity and that does not happen often in your career," he said. "So we will try to make the most of it."

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