It took Harry Kane 269 minutes and four matches to register a single shot on target at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Fast forward four years, and the England captain has emphatically buried those ghosts with a clinical brace in a 4-2 win over Croatia. According to Three Lions legend Alan Shearer, everything about Kane—his fitness, his role, and his mindset—is unrecognisable this time around.
A Nightmare in Qatar
Kane’s struggles in 2022 were a major talking point. He looked lethargic and isolated as England laboured through the group stage. Shearer, reflecting on that tournament, noted: “I didn’t think he was 100% fit at Euro 2024 either, and we also struggled to get the best out of him because of the way the team was set up.” The striker’s tendency to drop deep often left England without a focal point, and his first shot on target—a goal against Senegal in the last 16—came far too late to salvage a disappointing campaign.
Instant Impact Against Croatia
Contrast that with the 2026 opener. Kane broke the deadlock after just 12 minutes, later adding a second to put the match beyond Croatia. It was the kind of statement start Shearer knows well, having scored in England’s 1998 World Cup opener against Tunisia.
“Honestly, it was a massive relief—not only for the team to get the win, but to get on the scoresheet myself, as captain and our main goalscorer, when everyone was looking at me to deliver,” Shearer wrote. “For all the same reasons, I know Kane will be feeling exactly the same way after the way he played on Wednesday.”
Kane had watched other superstars like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi get off the mark earlier in the tournament, and Shearer believes that only sharpened his hunger.
The Tuchel Effect
England’s tactical blueprint under Thomas Tuchel has unlocked a different Kane. The system mirrors how he operates at Bayern Munich, where the manager previously coached him. Rather than dropping deep and cluttering midfield, Kane now has pacey runners in Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon bursting beyond him, stretching defences and creating space.
“When he came back looking for the ball against Croatia, Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham or Anthony Gordon were running past him and flying forward to cause problems for defenders with their pace and energy,” Shearer observed.
This shift has given England a more dynamic attack, and it showed as they dismantled a stubborn Croatian side.
Fitter, Stronger, Sharper
Beyond tactics, Kane’s physical condition stands out. He arrived in North America off the back of a staggering 61-goal season for Bayern Munich, a tally that included 20 more goals than any previous campaign. Shearer, who knows a thing or two about prolific scoring, admits those numbers are “ridiculous.”
“To me he looks fitter and stronger than before,” he added. “He’s come into this tournament off the back of a brilliant campaign for Bayern Munich and looks very sharp and very confident—as you would do after scoring 61 goals in one season.”
Golden Boot Dreams?
With arguably the toughest Group L fixture out of the way, Kane’s eyes will now be fixed on Ghana and Panama. History offers a tantalising precedent: in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, an early brace against Tunisia sent him on a run of five goals in two games, ultimately earning the Golden Boot and a semi-final appearance. Shearer sees a similar trajectory unfolding.
“With our toughest game out of the way and Ghana and Panama next, his eyes must be lighting up,” he said. If Kane maintains this form, England’s prospects of going deep in the tournament will soar.
Key Takeaways
- After a torrid 2022 World Cup, Harry Kane has hit the ground running with a brace against Croatia in 2026.
- Alan Shearer believes tactical tweaks under Thomas Tuchel—mirroring Kane’s Bayern Munich role—have revitalised the England captain.
- Kane’s supreme fitness, built on a 61-goal club season, has made him a more dynamic and confident threat.
- With Ghana and Panama up next, Kane could replicate his 2018 Golden Boot surge.
Quick Facts
2022 World Cup: 0 shots on target in first 4 games (269 minutes)
2026 World Cup: 2 goals from 7 shots in opening match vs Croatia
Club form: 61 goals for Bayern Munich in 2025/26 season
England record: 5 goals in first 2 games of 2018 World Cup (Golden Boot)
