Liverpool hero bizarrely claims ‘jury’s out’ on Harry Kane

The jury is out on England captain Harry Kane at the highest level, reckons former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

Kane scored twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday night, taking his international goal tally to 81.

The Bayern Munich striker also equalled Gary Lineker’s England record for goals at World Cups, netting for the 10th time in the sport’s biggest tournament.

The 32-year-old was in rampant form for Bayern last season, scoring 61 times in just 51 appearances, and appears to be continuing that form for his country.

However, Hamann is not so sure Kane is as good as everyone seems to think he is and has questioned whether he will perform against the best opposition.

The former Germany midfielder suggests his World Cup goals have only come against underdogs – although failed to mention a quarter-final goal against France – and does not think Kane has the pace to make an impact against the best teams.

‘He’s scored eight in the group games. He’s got two against Tunisia, three against Panama, penalty against Colombia in the round of 16,’ Hamann said on RTE Sport.

‘Out of 10 goals he’s got seven or eight in the group stage. He’s playing in his third World Cup now. He’s the captain and he’s there to score goals in the knockout games.

‘The jury’s out. I want to see him do it in the last 16 against France, in the last eight against Brazil. Whether he’s capable of doing it, we don’t know. He hasn’t done it so far.’

Hamann tried to downplay Kane’s achievements at Bayern, where he has scored 146 goals in 147 games, suggesting other strikers could do the same.

‘When I see him move sometimes, obviously he scores a lot of goal, then again in Munich every centre-forward has scored goals,’ said the 52-year-old. ‘It doesn’t matter if he scores 35 or 25, they’re going to win the league, usually.

‘In the Champions League this is where he scored this season against Paris [PSG]. Then again, when I watch the level of Paris and watch his level, I’m not sure. I think there’s a few centre-forwards in this tournament I’d probably rather have in my team than him.

‘In tournament football you score on the counter-attack. He won’t score on the counter-attack. Because when you play against the best teams sometimes you have to sit back and then go 50-60 yards to scroe a goal. If [Noni] Madueke takes off, if [Anthony] Gordon or [Marcus] Rashford take off, he won’t be able to keep up with him.

‘I’m sitting on the fence for now, I’ve got my doubts about him. Whether he’s the player that’s taking England to the World Cup.

‘At some stage in the tournament you need pace and he simply hasn’t got it.’

Hamann did accept that Kane’s finishing is unmatched, but feels he will not get the chances he needs against elite nations.

‘His finishing is probably the best in the tournament, the best in the world,’ said the German. ‘Left foot, right foot, give him half a chance and he’ll score.

‘But does he get in these positions against Germany, against Brazil, against France? I’m not too sure.’

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