Harry Kane insists England are “not afraid” of claiming they’ll win the 2022 World Cup and believes their poor kind has lowered expectations heading to Qatar.

Gareth Southgate’s aspect are one of many bookmakers’ favourites to win the event having reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, whereas they completed as runners-up finally yr’s European Championships.

But Kane feels England can go one step additional within the Middle East and win their first main trophy since lifting the World Cup in 1966.

In an unique interview with Sky Sports, England captain Kane mentioned: “We have to believe we can win it.

“I look again at England 10, 15 years in the past and it was nearly [like] we have been scared to say we needed to win it. I believe one of many large shifts that we have made during the last 4 or 5 years with Gareth isn’t being afraid to say that.

“Look, we will this event to win it as a result of we imagine we will. It’d be incorrect to suppose in any other case. What’s the purpose of going to a World Cup and never believing that you could convey the trophy residence?

“It’s going to be powerful and we will must work extraordinarily laborious, have a bit of little bit of luck and have plenty of issues go our strategy to obtain that.

“But I think it’s important not to be afraid to say that that’s what we’re going there to do.”

‘Poor kind has lowered expectations’

Southgate’s aspect, nevertheless, go into the World Cup off the again of a winless Nations League marketing campaign that resulted in relegation.

England start the event in opposition to Iran on November 21 in search of their first win in seven video games after three attracts and three losses, however Kane believes their poor kind has helped to decrease expectations heading to Qatar.

“The first game’s really important, for sure,” Kane mentioned. “Of course it hasn’t been the greatest period in a long time for England. Since Gareth took charge – we haven’t had a spell like we’ve had.

“But in a method earlier than a serious event that may be a very good factor as a result of it permits you to not be carried away, and even the media or the press to get carried away.

“I feel like if we won every game leading up to this tournament it would’ve been, ‘We’re guaranteed to win it’ and ‘We’re going to win it’, and that can come with a different pressure.

“We really feel like being judged on main tournaments is the primary factor and the final two we have had have been good.

“We have a good confidence within ourselves that we can go and have a great tournament in Qatar.”

Kane: Rolling straight into World Cup mid-season ‘helps’

Kane has been in nice kind for Tottenham this season having scored 13 objectives in all competitions, together with a objective in Spurs’ ultimate sport earlier than the World Cup in Saturday’s residence win over Leeds.

But the 29-year-old has performed 22 consecutive video games for Tottenham, elevating query marks over his health ranges.

Kane, nevertheless, believes the mid-season World Cup, which will get beneath method on November 20, is useful for him.

He mentioned: “For sure, I’d rather be going into it playing loads of games where you feel match fit.

“Sometimes after the season in the summertime you could have a break after which you need to gear again as much as play and you have not performed plenty of video games.

“I think rolling into it can help – as long as you manage it well and you recover well. I think recovery is the most important thing for any player in this period.

“You can attempt to practice as a lot as you may however the backside line is you’ll want to be able to have all of your vitality prepared for the sport, and that is what I’m attempting to do.”

The 2022 World Cup might be Kane’s fourth main event with England and he defined what challenges they create.

“I think major tournaments test you the most in terms of the high pressure,” he mentioned. “Playing for England is always high pressure but in a major tournament there’s always that added incentive.

“There’s in all probability going to be a penalty shootout – groups that get to the ultimate usually must win at the least one penalty shootout, so that they’re high-pressure moments.

“The mentality of being away from home, being in camp for five or six weeks but this one is fairly quick because it’s during the season. Normally you’re away four or five weeks before the tournament and then you’re away four or five weeks in the tournament, so it is a long period of time where you’re just outside your comfort zone.

“But I suppose what separates the highest nations and the successful nations from the others is who can cope with that the perfect.”

Neville: We should cut England slack at World Cup

Speaking on Sky Sports’ World Cup Special, Gary Neville said: “I believe we needs to be immensely pleased with these gamers. I have a look at my very own profession and the tournaments I’ve been to, these gamers went additional than I ever went to. They went to finals and semis. That’s an unimaginable achievement for England.

“Gareth has earned the right to be able to have a more difficult tournament. I’m not saying we should go out of the group, but if he got to the second round or got knocked out in the quarter-finals, he should still be in a position to decide whether he continues or not.

“Those gamers have constructed up a large rapport. You can see they’ve modified the dynamic and the spirit of the squad. It appears to be like like they get on with one another, you may see that after they play one another within the Premier League. I believe they will ship for us within the event.

“I think they’ll struggle to get past the quarter-final because of the path that they end up in but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad tournament and these players should be ridiculed for it. They’ve had a brilliant four, five years under Gareth and to be fair we should cut them some slack going into this tournament.”