Harry Kane one step from Peter Shilton's record with the Three Lions
Harry Kane, Bayern striker, could equal the record of 125 caps held by Peter Shilton this Tuesday during England's match against the Czech Republic, provided he plays just one minute. The player, already the top scorer of the Three Lions, is set to reach this historic milestone.
The record challenge
The challenge comes as part of the Football Nations League, where every appearance counts towards the ranking. Peter Shilton has long held the record of 125 caps, a figure that remains unmatched among English players. If Kane comes on, even for a minute, he will join that total. The Sports sector is closely following this prospect, while manager Gareth Southgate has confirmed the striker's presence on the bench.
Some observers wonder why English players have not reached 160, 170 or 180 caps like their counterparts from other nations. The question often returns to the culture and mentality of English football, without a definitive answer in current analyses.
Kane's career
Louis Janssen notes that on 27 March 2015, the day of his first senior international match, Harry Kane, then 21 years old, came on for Wayne Rooney against Lithuania and scored two minutes after his introduction. This late debut, compared with Alan Shearer (21), Wayne Rooney (17), Michael Owen (18) or Marcus Rashford (18), never hindered his rise.
Between mid‑December 2014 and mid‑March 2015, Kane's storm lasted fifteen matches, during which he scored 17 goals for Tottenham, which convinced Hodgson to select him for England. His brace against Croatia on Saturday raised his total to 89 caps, 36 more than the previous record held by Wayne Rooney.
Thomas Tuchel praises Bayern striker Harry Kane for extraordinary hunger
At club level, he scored 280 goals for the Spurs before joining Bayern, where he continues to add to his trophy cabinet. His spell in the Premier League cemented his status as a prolific scorer, before becoming the all‑time top scorer for the Three Lions.
Reactions and outlook
"When I was a kid, the dream was simply to play for England, and being the most‑capped player never crossed my mind," the Bayern striker said in September. "It will be an extraordinary feeling. It's just that, when I think about other countries, 125 caps for a nation isn’t actually that much."
Thomas Tuchel, Bayern manager, added on Monday: "I think all those number 9s around the world are built a little differently. They don’t do it solely for their team to win, but also for themselves, for the records. That’s how Harry is built."
Kane leads England to convincing victory after own goal
At thirty‑three, Kane continues to chase records as he chases goals, never seeming satisfied. His latest challenge remains to finally bring a trophy to England, a goal that could be realised as early as this Tuesday.