Harry Kane demands England embrace Mexico test
By Jonathan Veal, Press Association, Atlanta
England captain Harry Kane knows his side cannot expect to win the World Cup without passing tests like their last-16 tie with Mexico in Mexico City.
Kane saved England from one of their most embarrassing results in history as two goals in the final 15 minutes earned a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 32 in Atlanta.
Thomas Tuchel’s men were 15 minutes away from going home, instead they will now head to the host nation for a game at altitude on Sunday night where their credentials for winning the tournament will come under their biggest examination yet.
Kane knows if he has any chance of lifting the trophy in two and a half weeks then England need to prevail.
“I want to enjoy this one, because I know there’s another extremely tough game coming in four days,” Kane said.
“Mexico, in Mexico, is as big as it gets maybe in the World Cup.
“The atmosphere is going to be incredible. It’s going to be tough for many different reasons but ultimately, if you want to be world champions, you have to go through tough games, good teams, Mexico at home.
“We have to be ready but for now I just want to enjoy this moment, I want to recover, relax, and then obviously the focus will turn pretty quickly onto that one on Sunday.
“They’ve obviously won every game so far in the tournament, but they’re playing at home.
“The fans will be right behind them so we’ll have to be ready for it, no doubt, but we spoke about our quality and being ourselves in every game.”
Kane took his tally to five goals for the tournament, keeping him on the coattails of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Erling Haaland is also on five and Kane, who has now scored more World Cup goals than Pele, is only focusing on helping the team.
“They’ve (Messi and Mbappe) obviously both had an incredible tournament so far, as a lot of other players have as well,” the 32-year-old, who has now captained the side more than Bobby Moore and Billy Wright, said.
“So, that’s you guys who are going to compare us, you’re going to put us on that pedestal, and it looks like everyone’s having a pretty good tournament so far.
“From my point of view, it’s just about doing what I can to help the team progress, and again today it was with a couple of goals, so I’m extremely pleased with that.
“I think it’s hard fully to take it all in, especially when you’re in a tournament environment, you just kind of focus on the games.
“But when you come away and you read some of the names that I’m among now, especially in England history, it’s something that I’m extremely grateful.”
