Injuries ‘exaggeration’ similar to Beckham and Rooney – Kane
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England captain Harry Kane says the “hype and noise” surrounding his injury is similar to when David Beckham and Wayne Rooney suffered their problems before and during previous major tournaments.
Kane picked up a heavy knock on his ankle in the opening 6-2 win against Iran and was taken off after 76 minutes.
The The Tottenham striker had a preventive scan, but then it touched all the work 0-0 draw against the United States.
“Whether or not I’m fully fit or injured, someone else can come in, in any position,” Kane told BBC Sport.
“The team is not me. We have 26 players here who are looking to achieve the same thing: to win a World Cup.”
In 2002, England’s build-up to the World Cup was overshadowed by headlines and bulletins about captain Beckham’s infamous metatarsal injury.
Just 54 days before the start of the tournament in Japan and South Korea, the midfielder broke a bone in his left foot playing for Manchester United in the Champions League.
But Beckham made a remarkable recovery after treatment in an oxygen tent to lead his side into the quarter-finals, where they were beaten 2-1 by eventual winners Brazil.
Two years later, an 18-year-old Rooney burst onto the international stage and was England’s star player at Euro 2004, scoring four goals during a run to the last 16.
But, like Beckham, he suffered a broken metatarsal in the quarter-finals against Portugal and England ended up losing the match (6-5) on penalties.
“I was an England fan before I was an England player. I know that [about] when Rooney got injured, when Beckham got the injury, so I know the hype and noise that can come,” Kane added.
“I know and understand why it’s happening, but from our point of view, we’re totally focused on ourselves to go far in the tournament.”
England top Group B and will progress to the last 16 in Qatar if they avoid a four-goal defeat by wales in their final group game on Tuesday (19:00 GMT kick-off).
Kane said: “I’m fine. I know there’s been a lot of noise. In the Iran game, I could have easily played the full 90 minutes but the manager changed it for tactical reasons.
“I did a precautionary scan, which is common in our sport, and it came back pretty clear. Very good.
“Physically I feel good and I will be ready for the game.”
“This tournament suits us”
The World Cup in Qatar has been moved to a winter slot for the first time due to the extreme temperatures that can be reached in the country in the summer.
It has meant that leagues around the world have stopped mid-season to host the tournament, with the Premier League halted just seven days before the opening game.
Just 11 days before kick-off, Spurs manager Antonio Conte said Kane was “very, very tired” after being substituted in the second half of the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat against Nottingham Forest.
Kane added: “I don’t think there’s another major tournament where the players are at this peak, fitness-wise.
“This tournament, the match fitness has been easier than a summer tournament where you have four or five weeks off and you have to get your match speed back.
“This tournament suits a lot of us because we are used to playing every three days at this stage of the season.”
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