EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� went from an invisible first half to England鈥檚 all-time leading goal scorer at the .
After touching the ball the fewest times of any player in the first 45 or so minutes of an important game against Panama on Saturday to wrap up group play, Kane needed one important header to make history. In the 67th minute, he scored his 11th career World Cup goal to break a tie with Gary Lineker for the country’s most on soccer’s biggest stage.
“It鈥檚 fantastic that he has the chance to break this record in a World Cup when it really matters,” coach Thomas Tuchel said after to win its group. 鈥淓veryone鈥檚 very happy for Harry because he鈥檚 a fantastic teammate. That makes it very special. He鈥檚 loved by everyone, respected by everyone.鈥�
Jude Bellingham, who scored a few minutes earlier to relieve some of the tension building up on the field and in the stands full of red-and-white clad fans, made the pass to Kane, who outjumped Andr茅s Andrade and headed a ball past diving goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera.
鈥淛ude with a great bit of play and a great cross,鈥� Kane said. 鈥淗e kind of just hung it up, and I was kind of waiting for that one throughout the game 鈥� just to get across my man there 鈥� and it was nice to see it go in.鈥�
This particular goal was the result of the chemistry Bellingham and Kane built up over several years playing together.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite easy to play with him, in all honestly,鈥� Bellingham said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 at a level at the minute that鈥檚 just incredible. You don鈥檛 doubt him at all in terms of whether he鈥檚 involved, whether he鈥檚 not. You know he鈥檚 going to make a difference in the game, and he did again.鈥�
There did seem to be doubt at halftime, when Kane was a nonfactor with 10 touches and England was never close to scoring. Down the road in Philadelphia, Croatia’s lead on Ghana turned up the pressure.
But there was far more jump out of halftime, and the soon-to-be 33-year-old striker was a big part of the improvement on the way to a victory that looked on the scoreboard more convincing than it felt for much of the the it was being played.
The goal was Kane’s 82nd playing for England internationally, adding to his own record. Teammate Jordan Henderson, now at his fourth World Cup, recalled in the opener against Croatia to match Lineker and mistakenly thought this mark was already in Kane’s sole possession.
鈥淚t seems with age, he鈥檚 just continued,鈥� Henderson said. “He鈥檚 smashing records everywhere he goes and scores so many goals. He鈥檚 been an incredible player so far for England and continues. He鈥檚 still got a long way to go. But, yeah, he deserves everything he gets. He鈥檚 been an incredible player, an incredible teammate and delighted for him to be able to get that record.鈥�
Bellingham considers Kane England’s best player of all time 鈥� 鈥渢he one who鈥檚 showed up more than anyone, more than any England player.鈥� Kane even scored with another icon, David Beckham, watching from the stands with his face flashed on video screens to massive cheers.
鈥淥bviously another proud one to reach, for sure, No. 11,” said Kane, who now has three goals this tournament. “I hope it鈥檚 not the last this tournament.”
Those around him do not expect Kane to stop scoring any time soon going into the knockout stage, given the elusive aim of taking a World Cup trophy home for the first time in 60 years.
鈥淗arry is in an amazing state of mind 鈥� physically, as well,鈥� Tuchel said. “He is hungry to go all the way in this World Cup and he is not satisfied, which shows just the character and the determination of him. That鈥檚 why we are a happy to have him as a captain.鈥�
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AP Sports Writer Ron Blum contributed to this report.
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