Harry Kane deserves to take place among pantheon of England greats

The Bayern Munich striker will win his 100th cap for his country, becoming one of ten players to reach the historic milestone.

Kane will be the first to achieve it since Wayne Rooney managed the feat in 2014, and it is the former striker's outfield record of 120 appearances that he surely has in his sights.

If he was to play every international that England contest between now and the 2026 World Cup in just under two years' time, then he would take it during the tournament.

Another run to the latter stages - perhaps even the final - could well see him overhaul Peter Shilton's record of 125 caps, though there are plenty of factors to navigate.

But even then, if Kane was to take the national team to a third showpiece climax in five years, would it change the narrative around his place in England lore?

Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images

By any logical measure, his achievements should see him celebrated as one of the great Three Lions icons for his contribution on the international stage.

He has led them as captain in four international tournaments, more than any other player, and scored more goals than any other man to pull on the England shirt.

Among skippers, only Billy Wright and Bobby Moore have won more caps while wearing the armband, and in terms of silverware, only Moore holds a better record too.

Yet despite this success, there has always seemed to be questions nipping at the heels of Kane's place in the pantheon, measured more by missed chances than feats achieved.

That semi-final six years ago against Croatia, dashed in extra-time. The agony of shootout ghosts versus Italy three years later. A spurned spot-kick against France in Qatar.

For all that he has achieved, it is these images that seem to sustain themselves in the tapestry of national identity, tempered perhaps by a watershed win over Colombia in 2018.

Perhaps it is the unassuming way he has conducted his career, a figure reticent to seek the spotlight off the pitch and without a cultural footprint to speak of.

Maybe it is the low-key nature of his finishes at international level, having scored just a handful of his 66 goals from outside the box.

It could well be an unfortunate reputation as a man of near-misses, a figure who has come close to silverware across a career, but still heads home each night to an empty cabinet.

All of these could be credible reasons for why some are resistant to hold Kane in the same esteem as Rooney, or David Beckham, or Steven Gerrard, or Frank Lampard.

Will time be kind to Kane?

At the end of the day, this is all just noise that detracts from what has, by any metric, been a sparkling England playing career.

Perhaps Kane will be able to go that one step further than he could under Gareth Southgate. Perhaps he will finally end the years of hurt in America, or even on home soil in 2028.

But even if he does not, then it should not change a thing. Like his former manager, it may require the passage of time to see his achievements with sparkling clarity.

Here is a man who, through contributions and commitment to a cultural colossus, has helped redefine its place - and he deserves to be remembered with the respect of a legend.

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