[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] England's leading striker Harry Kane (29, Tottenham) ended the 2022 Qatar World Cup with mixed feelings, having set the record for the highest number of goals in A matches during this World Cup but missing a penalty kick.
On the 11th (Korean time), Kane started in the quarterfinal match against France at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, and scored an equalizing goal in the 9th minute of the second half to make it 1-1. France's Aur?lien Tchouam?ni fouled Bukayo Saka inside the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick, which Kane successfully converted.
With this, Kane scored his 53rd goal in A matches, tying with retired Wayne Rooney as England's all-time top scorer. According to football statistics specialist Opta, Kane also set the record for the most penalty goals in World Cup history with his fourth penalty goal.
In fact, Kane had a chance to surpass Rooney and become the sole top scorer in this tournament. In the 36th minute of the second half, with England trailing 1-2, Mason Mount (Chelsea) was fouled by Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), earning another penalty kick. Kane stepped up as the kicker, but his right-footed shot missed the goalpost and went wide, missing the chance to equalize and break the top scorer record. The match ended in a 1-2 loss without a comeback goal.
Despite his outstanding individual skills, Kane's failure to secure a team victory added to the disappointment. Kane has been one of the world's best strikers, having won the Premier League (EPL) Golden Boot three times and scoring six goals to become the top scorer at the 2018 Russia World Cup, but he has never lifted a trophy in major competitions such as the league, the English Football Association (FA) Cup, or the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League. England has also not won the World Cup since 1966.
In a post-match interview on-site, Kane said, "It’s a really tough night. Both I and the team are devastated," adding, "As captain, I accept the situation and feel responsible for missing the penalty."
Regarding the missed penalty, he said, "I can’t blame my preparation. I was confident during the second attempt just like the first," and added, "Of course, it’s painful and will hurt for a long time, but that’s part of being the team’s captain and leader."
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