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Martin Keown has appeared to imply that Harry Kane will be feeling the pressure at the World Cup as he is yet to score in Qatar.
Keown told the ‘Daily Mail,’ newspaper that the England skipper will be feeling like he is “struggling to breathe,” at the tournament in the Gulf State because goals are like “oxygen” to him.
The striker has started every England game at the World Cup so far but has yet to find the net.
Kane finds himself in unusual form, considering the number 9 is one of the leading scorers in the Premier League back in England.
The Spurs captain has 12 Premier League goals for his club this season and finds himself in second place, behind Erling Haaland (18 goals), in the race for the Golden Boot.
Nevertheless, Kane will be desperate to score at the World Cup and his next chance comes on Sunday when his side will face Senegal in the last 16 round.
Still, the striker has made some major contributions to his team in the group stage.
Kane has provided three assists for his teammates at the tournament. The England captain created two goals in his team’s win over Iran, with assists for Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling.Then, an assist for Phil Foden came against Wales, which Alan Shearer described as “quality,” on Tuesday night.
Keown has explained that Kane’s scoring pedigree means he will be desperate to get a goal for his country in Qatar.
The pundit did, however, compliment the striker on his contributions to the team and compared the 29 year old to David Beckham in that sense.
“Goals are like oxygen for Kane, he will be struggling to breathe,” the pundit said.
“But it isn’t as if he’s not been contributing,” he explained, “his assists have been reminiscent of Beckham.”
“That low cross for Foden was sublime,” he gushed.
However, Keown still highlighted Kane’s poor scoring from for England as of late can quickly be turned around.
“Kane didn’t get a goal in the group stages of Euro 2020,” he said.
“Then he scored against Germany in the last 16, Ukraine in the quarters and Denmark in the semis,” he told the Mail.
After winning the golden boot award at the Russia World Cup in 2018, Kane’s form this time around does offer a strong contrast though.
The Debate over Kane’s form has captured the attention of the English media
Gareth Southgate may be a tad bit concerned as the knock-out stages of the competition approach.
The Three Lions have so far encountered sides that they would have been expected to beat in the shape of Iran (6-0), the USA (1-1) and Wales (3-0) and they have done just that in two out of their three games, remaining unbeaten.
However, the team may come up against stiffer opposition if they continue to advance in the tournament, which is where Kane’s services will especially be needed.
The skipper will be desperate to try and secure England’s first World Cup title since the country’s famous win in 1966.
They take on Senegal this Sunday in the last 16 round of the tournament competition and are the strong favorites to progress to the quarter-final stages.
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