BURTON-ON-TRENT, United Kingdom, Mar 20 – England should embrace their new-found status as one of the favourites for a major tournament, believes captain Harry Kane.

The Three Lions open their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign at home to the Czech Republic on Friday fresh from a run to the last four of the World Cup last summer and with another semi-final to come in the Nations League in June.

“I think we feel that expectation where people now expect us to do well and I think before the World Cup there was no expectation. It is great that we have turned that around,” said Kane on Tuesday.

“I think we’ve handled it really well since the World Cup. I think we’re the only team who got into the semi-finals at the World Cup to have got through their Nations League groups, and we had probably one of the hardest groups.

“I think that was big for us, to prove to everyone that it wasn’t just a one-off. That this team we are really building for something special in the future.”

England’s chances of winning a major tournament for the first time since 1966 next year will also be boosted by having the majority of their games at Wembley.

Both semi-finals and final will be held at the home of English football, as well as at least two of England’s group games should they qualify.

“We know the chance to play a Euros where most of the games are at home is an amazing opportunity and you don’t often get that in your career so we will try and make the most of it,” added Kane.

Despite Tottenham’s faltering form of late, Kane has scored four times in five games since returning from a five-week injury layoff due to ankle ligament damage.

And the World Cup Golden Boot winner thinks he is “in the zone” in front of goal ahead of a massive three months for club and country with Spurs set to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals and in a battle for a top-four Premier League finish.

“I never want to be injured, but I had that break while I was injured and I’ve used that to make sure I’m fresh now,” he added.

“I feel in that zone, where if I get a chance, I’m going to put it away. You go through spells like that during the season.

“Since I came back from injury, I feel like I’m sharp with a lot of energy, and that’s when I feel I’m at my best.”

Kane’s latest goal in a 2-1 defeat at Southampton was the 200th of his career, but at just 25, he hopes he can follow the example of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by maturing into an even more prolific goalscorer late into his twenties.

“Nowadays with everything, sports science, I feel the prime can be a bit later.

“Maybe 28 to 30, that’s maybe when you’re going to be in your prime. If you keep yourself in shape –- Ronaldo and Messi have proven that. I’ve still got a little bit to go.”

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Sofapaka hitman Kasumba bags Feb gong

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn New F1 grand prix can tap into Vietnam ‘passion’ for racing: Todtrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 49 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn IAAF clarifies decision on alleged removal of 5000m in Diamond Leaguern

rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn 15 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Evra denies homophobia after social media spat with PSGrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 13 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Big win for PSG as UEFA financial probe droppedrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Ronaldo ban would be ‘crazy’, says Juve teammate Bernardeschirn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd ‘Class of 92’rn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 16 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn IAAF spare our talented youth: Opinionrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Nine-man Gor sail to Confed Cup quartersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Ozil slammed for reportedly inviting Erdogan to his weddingrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn rn Ngige earns Sh1.2mn at Magical Kenya openrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Cheruiyot smashes Lisbon Half recordrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Vivian Cheruiyot leads field for Lisbon Halfrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn I couldnu2019t sleep for four days u2013 Tuyisengern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn United v Barca, Spurs v City in UCL quartersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Injera, Amonde back for season finishrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

New F1 grand prix can tap into Vietnam ‘passion’ for racing: Todt

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

IAAF clarifies decision on alleged removal of 5000m in Diamond League

rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Evra denies homophobia after social media spat with PSG

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Big win for PSG as UEFA financial probe dropped

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ronaldo ban would be ‘crazy’, says Juve teammate Bernardeschi

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL GOR MAHIA ADVANCE TO CAF CONFEDERATION CUP QUARTERS?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Giggs hits back after Zlatan criticism of Man Utd ‘Class of 92’

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Ronaldo joins Portugal camp for Euro qualifiers

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Crusaders say grieving more important than name change talk

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

FIFA Qatar 2022 plan would ‘exacerbate’ Gulf tensions

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

‘I Live! I Die!’ — New Zealand uses haka to heal after attacks

rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Sofapaka hitman Kasumba bags Feb gongrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Eldoret to host Chapa Dimba R.Valley Regionrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn New F1 grand prix can tap into Vietnam ‘passion’ for racing: Todtrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Kane welcomes great expectations on Engrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn IAAF clarifies decision on alleged removal of 5000m in Diamond Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIAAF spare our talented youth: Opinionrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Saturday, 16th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNine-man Gor sail to Confed Cup quartersrn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tOzil slammed for reportedly inviting Erdogan to his weddingrn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 18th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNgige earns Sh1.2mn at Magical Kenya openrn

rn Golfrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tCheruiyot smashes Lisbon Half recordrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Sunday, 17th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tVivian Cheruiyot leads field for Lisbon Halfrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Friday, 15th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tI couldnu2019t sleep for four days u2013 Tuyisengern

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 18th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tUnited v Barca, Spurs v City in UCL quartersrn

rn Footballrn rn Friday, 15th Mar 2019rn rn rn t

rn tInjera, Amonde back for season finishrn

rn Rugbyrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Sofapaka hitman Kasumba bags Feb gongrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Eldoret to host Chapa Dimba R.Valley Regionrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn New F1 grand prix can tap into Vietnam ‘passion’ for racing: Todtrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Kane welcomes great expectations on Engrn rn rn Viewrn rn Wednesday, 20th Mar 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn IAAF clarifies decision on alleged removal of 5000m in Diamond Leaguern rn rn Viewrn rn Tuesday, 19th Mar 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */