Harry Kane on the Cusp of Century

England Captain Harry Kane will become just the 10th man to make 100 England appearances when the Three Lions face Finland in the Nations League at Wembley on Tuesday.Harry Kane on the Cusp of Century

The 31-year-old made his debut in 2015 and is his country’s all-time top scorer with 66 goals in 99 games. becoming only the 10th player in the team’s history to reach that milestone.Kane was named in England’s starting line-up as captain for its UEFA Nations League game against Finland at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.

The Bayern Munich striker will be the first England player since Wayne Rooney in 2014 to get to 100 caps and, at 31 and still one of world football’s most lethal strikers, is on track to break former goalkeeper Peter Shilton’s record of 125 appearances for the national team.

Kane’s 100 games have included two European Championship finals — one lost to Italy in 2021, the other to Spain this year — and a World Cup semifinal appearance in 2018. That’s the closest England has come to a major trophy since winning the 1966 World Cup.

Kane made his England debut in 2015 against Lithuania under manager Roy Hodgson, and current caretaker manager Lee Carsley is the fourth different coach of his national team career.

 

Rooney went on to earn 120 caps, putting him second on the all-time appearance list behind former goalkeeper Peter Shilton (125).

The others to have surpassed the century of appearances are David Beckham (115), Steven Gerrard (114), Bobby Moore (108), Ashley Cole (107), Bobby Charlton (106), Frank Lampard (106) and Billy Wright (105).

“When you look at the list [of players with 100 caps] it is a list of some our greatest players,” Kane said.

“I’m sure when I’m retired I’ll look back on this with immense pride.”

Kane said he will next target reaching 100 goals after making his 100th England appearance.

“I’ve done around 15, 16, 17 caps a year whereas a normal year would be 10,” he added.

“The goals were similar. I felt I was on 30 goals and then I went to 50 and then 60.

“It is definitely there and definitely possible. I feel like I am in a good place and these are good targets to try to reach.

“Some people may see them as unrealistic but I would rather go for something unrealistic and not quite make it rather than be comfortable just saying I will be happy with 70 or 80 goals.”