England's Harry Kane not worried by lack of goals at Euro 2016
Saturday 25 June 2016 07:47, UK
Harry Kane is sure he can fire England towards the later stages of Euro 2016 and feels chances have not fallen his way so far.
The Tottenham striker is yet to score in France, having been withdrawn midway through the 2-1 win over Wales and not being included in the starting line-up against Slovakia.
UEFA's stats department credit Kane with being on the end of eight chances in 150 game minutes, but apart from an effort cleared off the line against Wales, he does not feels there have been any he would have been disappointed to miss.
"Probably not," he said, when asked if he had spurned any genuine openings ahead of Monday's last-16 clash with Iceland in Nice.
"Not a clear chance where I'd say, 'I'm disappointed I missed that, I wish I'd scored that one'. But you just have to be ready for when that chance comes.
"It's three games in. As a striker I want to score every game, I want to score two in every game.
"But it doesn't always work like that. I'll keep my confidence up and, if I'm playing on Monday, I'll do my best to score and my best for the team, creating chances for others.
"I want to score goals, I want to win football matches. Hopefully, if called upon on Monday, I can do that, get on the scoresheet and win the game."
The knockout stages also bring with them the spectre of penalty shootouts, and Kane would happily put his hand up to take a spot-kick.
Kane's last England goal came in the pre-tournament friendly with Turkey but he says the memory of missing from 12 yards in that same game will not affect his confidence if he has to step up again.
"I would definitely take a penalty," he said. "We have been practising a few in training and I'm one who practises a lot through the season, obviously taking them for Tottenham, so if a penalty comes up, I'll be ready to take it.
"Technically, you all learn where to put the ball in the corner, but there's no pressure (in training). It's a bit more psychological in a tournament. It comes down to holding your nerve on the night and putting it in the corner.
"From what I've seen and know about the squad, I'd be more than confident if any stepped up to take a penalty.
"We have a lot of good strikers of the ball. The Spurs boys wouldn't have a problem stepping up. The others wouldn't, either.
"Hopefully it won't come to penalties on Monday. Hopefully we win the game, but if called upon, we'll all step up and try and score."
Kane hopes a win over Iceland will take any pressure off Roy Hodgson, although the England manager was backed to continue in his role by FA chairman Greg Dyke on Friday.
Asked about Hodgson's post-Euro 2016 future, he said: "That's something the FA will decide, whether we go out of the tournament or win it. We have to focus on our jobs and play for the manager who is there now. That's all we can do.
"He's been a fantastic coach for me, a fantastic manager. I've learned a lot from him. Everything I've learned from him has helped in my career. We're doing our best for the team, for him and for our country. That's all we can do. You can't do more."
