Harry Kane Wants To Silence Criticism By Winning Gold Boots At Euro 2024

Harry Kane prioritizes England's playing system at Euro 2024 (Instagram/@harrykane).

JAKARTA - Harry Kane is well aware that he has been the target of criticism throughout Euro 2024.

Many call it a loss of speed and sharpness. Later, the Bayern Munich player was already hot.

Kane intends to silence the detrimental mouths that are driving him. The top score title aka winning the Euro 2024 Golden Boot is the target to reply to criticism.

So far, he is still England's top score with two goals with Jude Bellingham. They are in second place in the top score list, behind Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Dani Olmo (Spain), and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia) with three goals.

The match against the Netherlands in the semifinals on Thursday, July 11, 2024, will be proof. Kane wants to score again in order to lead the scoring list.

"Hopefully I can score some goals and you look at me in a very different way," Kane said.

First of all, Kane wants to stop Cody Gakpo's goal. That is, England had to beat the Netherlands in the semifinals.

Then, the 30-year-old striker has ambitions to add to his goals coffers when he meets Spain in the final. At least that is Kane's current target.

Kane has many factors to realize his plan. In fact, he was a predator in front of the opponent's goal against the club.

Just look at Kane's 44 goals with Bayern Munich for the 2023/2024 season. If there are no problems with fitness -- so far back injuries often interfere -- Kane will have the best performance.

"If you look at some of the last major tournaments, at some stage there are always question marks regarding my fitness or performance."

"I know everyone wants me to score three goals in one game. I want to score three goals in one game, but that doesn't always happen."

"Maybe sometimes when I don't score goals, fitness is an excuse. However, I feel I have good preparation to deal with it."

"I feel better and sharper as the game goes on. In the end, it depends on my performance," Kane said with confidence.

In addition to the fitness factor, Kane mentioned several reasons that made himself or England as a whole unproductive from the group stage to the quarter-finals.

According to him, Manager Gareth Southgate instructed the game system to focus on reducing opponents. So, the system erodes the team's offensive side to play it safe.

"I will be the top scorer, qualify for the final. This is a different perspective. I want to score more goals, but this tournament has low scores for various reasons."

"The field is part of that reason. The team is more organized. From the manager's point of view, they are more structured and make it difficult for the favorite team or the better team to take advantage of it."

"You know that you've never been as bad as you thought. You've never been as good as you thought in your good days," Kane said.

Whatever Southgate's instructions, Kane thought it was for the good of the team even though he was the target of criticism because he looked less sharp.

In fact, Kane also contributes to the defensive side and opens opportunities for other players. That reason makes the 30-year-old not only oriented towards scoring goals. This is out of the public's view.

"As I play back, I may not get the ball. However, it might create space for other players around me, maybe also drag the players out of position."

"You've seen my game in recent years that I love possession, spinning, and playing."

"I criticize myself just like everyone else. I know there are times in matches where I should be able to perform better and move better, especially inside and around the penalty box."

"There are various reasons more down or stay ahead. That's what we've been working on all week, to exploit other teams."

"In the end I did my best for the team. Of course people will judge me based on goals."

"If you told me before the tournament that I was going to score some goals and be in the semifinals, I would immediately ignore you," Kane said.

Whatever criticism points to him, Kane remains one of England's best strikers today. He was once the top scorer of the 2018 World Cup with six goals.

Currently, Kane is more concerned with teamwork. He will work hard to find ways to add to his collection of goals with the playing system Southgate carries for Euro 2024 Golden Boots.