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Harry Kane relishing challenge against 'amazing' Giorgio Chiellini

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Harry Kane of Tottenham is marked by Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini of Juve during the pre-season match between Totten
Image: Harry Kane is looking forward to testing himself against Giorgio Chiellini

Tottenham striker Harry Kane says he is looking forward to playing against "amazing" Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini again having first encountered him on his England debut.

Kane made his full England debut under then-manager Roy Hodgson in a 1-1 draw away to Italy in 2015.

The Tottenham striker reminisced how he was bundled unceremoniously to the ground within the first few minutes of that match by a shuddering challenge from Juventus centre-back Chiellini.

TURIN, ITALY - MARCH 31:  Giorgio Chiellini of Italy and Harry Kane of England #9 compete for the ball during the international friendly match between Ital
Image: Chiellini challenges Kane in an international friendly in 2015

Kane says he is looking forward to testing himself against the veteran defender once again in Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg in Turin.

"He's an amazing defender," Kane said in the pre-match press conference.



"My first start for England probably the first five minutes he made a challenge and I probably had a dead leg for 10 minutes.

"It was a good welcome to international football!

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"We know how good their defence is as a whole and obviously their goalkeeper as well. They're a fantastic team and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"They've kept a lot of clean sheets, but we've scored a lot of goals in the Premier League so it should be a good test."

Chiellini does not recall the challenge himself but is fully aware of how far Kane has come since their last encounter, describing him as "one of the best strikers" whose potential was clear to see.

He said: "Kane said I made a rough challenge on him once? I don't remember, it could be the case... but it wasn't on purpose.

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"He's an extraordinary forward as his statistics from the last year show.

"He's a complete forward who plays for the team.

"In my opinion, he was already one of the best strikers and people were already talking about him then. I think I was a good judge."

The 33-year-old also warned his Juventus team-mates that Spurs are anything but a one-man team.

"It's impossible for me to stop Kane on my own, the important thing is that Juventus stop Tottenham," he added.

"It would be simplistic to think that Tottenham is just about Kane."

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