- Published
Harry Kane will write another chapter in his illustrious England history by equalling Peter Shilton's record tally of 125 caps if he plays a part in the Uefa Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic at Wembley.
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he → publish → Wembley
England's captain is already his country's record scorer with 89 goals in 124 appearances in a full international career he started by opening his account 79 seconds into his debut.
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he → start → debut
He is in the process of building a monument to his goalscoring brilliance at elite level as he currently stands 36 goals ahead of England's second-highest scorer Wayne Rooney, who boasts a record of 53 goals in 120 games.
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who → build → games
The only blemish on his magnificent career is the failure – not his alone it must be stressed – to add to the one men's World Cup won in 1966.
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it → stress → 1966
Irrespective of that space for silverware on his CV, how highly does Kane rank in the pantheon of greats who have represented the England men's team?
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who → rank → team
He has made himself a serious contender.
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himself → make → ?
- where does Kane rank?
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Kane → rank → ?
This argument will instantly cut away from Kane to Bobby Moore, the elegant, unflappable defender who remains the only England captain to lift the World Cup, leading his team to triumph at Wembley in July 1966 as West Germany were beaten 4-2.
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Germany → cut → July
He won 108 caps between May 1962 and November 1973.
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He → win → May
And then, of course, the conversation must turn to Sir Bobby Charlton, who survived the Munich Air Disaster with Manchester United in 1958 to become arguably England's most famous footballer of his era.
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who → turn → era
Charlton was a global beacon of dignity and world-class ability, winning the World Cup then, two years later, captaining Manchester United when they became the first English team to win the European Cup, scoring twice as Benfica were beaten 4-1 at Wembley.
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Benfica → win → Wembley
He remains third on England's list of scorers, with 49 goals in 106 games.
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He → remain → games
Sir Geoff Hurst will always claim a special place with his hat-trick in the World Cup final win, while many others will have their supporters from recent times, including the likes of Wayne Rooney and David Beckham.
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others → claim → Rooney
Former England midfielder Danny Murphy, said: "Bobby Moore will always be in people's conversation.
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Moore → say → conversation
Sir Bobby Charlton also, because of what they did and the memories they created.
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they → create → what
"As you move forward, for me as a kid Gazza [Paul Gascoigne] burst on the scene and became a hero, especially as a creative midfield player myself.
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Gazza → move → player
"I think Rooney was arguably the most all-round footballer we have ever had, the most talented I've seen – but no-one can argue with Harry Kane's quality, numbers and longevity.
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one → think → quality
He added: "There is one thing there is no debate about.
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He → add → ?
This is all about opinions and eras, but his record and longevity alone informs you that he is an England great.
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he → inform → you
"
'We are guilty of underestimating what is in front of us'
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what → underestimate → us
Where he stands in that list of greats will be shaped by eras and opinions, according to former internationals Paul Robinson and Murphy.
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stands → stand → internationals
Robinson told BBC Sport that the scale of Kane's greatness may only be fully appreciated in years to come.
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scale → tell → years
He said: "Harry Kane is an England great.
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Kane → say → ?
"I think we are guilty in the modern era of underestimating what we've got in front of us.
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we → think → us
We are quite happy to look through rose-tinted spectacles at what we had in the past.
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we → look → past
"We will talk about Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton, but football now is a completely different game.
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football → talk → Moore
The life of a footballer is completely different and it's almost like they are playing a different game.
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they → play → game
"What Bobby Moore and Sir Bobby Charlton achieved, nobody in an England shirt has done since.
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nobody → achieve → shirt
You respect what they did in the era, and the status and legacy that comes with winning the World Cup and everything else they did, but we must also say it is a different game now."
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it → respect → Cup
Kane's double in Saturday's 7-0 win in Croatia took his tally to 11 goals in 12 games for England in this calendar year.
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double → take → year
He has also scored in six consecutive England away games, with only Sir Tom Finney having a longer run, seven between September 1946 and May 1948.
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Finney → score → September
Last season alone, Ballon d'Or contender Kane scored a remarkable 73 goals in 65 games for England and his club Bayern Munich.
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Kane → score → England
He has scored five hat-tricks in an England career which includes 110 starts, with a 66% win rate.
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which → score → rate
"The biggest compliment you can pay Harry Kane is to ask yourself how long we've been pondering the question 'what will England do if Harry Kane gets injured?'," Robinson added.
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Robinson → pay → what
It is taken as read the captain is playing and without the captain, we would be in trouble.
"
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we → take → trouble
I think we'll appreciate him even more in another 10,15, 20 years when you look back and see what he has achieved.
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he → think → what
People will point to the lack of silverware with England, but he can't play everywhere can he?
"
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he → point → England
We look back with nostalgia and fondness, saying we've had this great and that great – and England have – but make no mistake Kane is right in that debate and will be for years to come."
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Kane → look → years
'The big moments haven't yet happened for him'
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moments → happen → him
Kane's lack of a major international trophy will undoubtedly be the argument used to counter suggestions he is England's greatest.
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he → use → suggestions
…and 12 more, not listed.
The Aporia
