2018 World Cup: Kane Named England Captain

England have named striker Harry Kane as their captain ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia this summer.

England’s coach Gareth Southgate named the Tottenham’s star striker as his skipper for the tournament during a meeting with the squad at St. George’s Park on Monday night.

The 24-year-old has won 23 caps and scored 12 goals for his country, and also has captained England four times under Southgate in the World Cup qualifier matches against Lithuania, Slovenia and Scotland and a friendly against France.

Southgate confirmed that Kane’s work ethic earned him the arm band of the Three Lions despite being his first World Cup.

“Harry has some outstanding personal qualities. He is a meticulous professional and one of the most important things for a captain is that they set the standard every day.

“He has belief and high standards and it is a great message for the team to have a captain who has shown that it is possible to be one of the best in the world over a consistent period of time and that has been his drive.

“My feeling is that over the last 18 months in the camps that he’s been with us he has shown that he has got the desire to take that into a team environment and he recognises the importance of bringing others with him.

“Of course, Harry will need the support of the other good leaders that we have got around him. You don’t become a top team by just having a good captain with good values because that has got to spread right throughout the group but I think he is the one who is ready to take that challenge on,” Southgate said.

Kane has been in excellent form for Spurs this season, netting a total of 41 goals in all competitions as the club finished third in the Premier League and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

“I’m so excited for the World Cup. I can’t wait to be there and experience it. To be leading the lads out is going to be special.

“But for me, nothing changes. I’m still the person, the same player. It is just about the team. We will do what we can and go as far as we can,” Kane said.

Southgate’s men are drawn in Group G for the World Cup and will face Tunisia in their opening game on June 18, before playing Panama and Belgium in their remaining group fixture.

England will also play host to the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a pre-World Cup friendly match on June 2nd at the Wembley stadium.

It's confirmed. @HKane will be our captain for the @FIFAWorldCup.

We're live with the man himself and @GarethSouthgate right now: https://t.co/w1Bq1YL2Ns

— England (@England) May 22, 2018