Harry Kane has had a breathlessly exciting few years.
Since breaking into the Tottenham first team the young striker has netted more than 20 league goals in consecutive campaigns, picked up a Golden Boot for his troubles, and he’s so far emerged as Roy Hodgson’s number one choice to lead the line for England at Euro 2016.
It’s fair to say that even at the age of 22, Kane has no lack of big-game experience, and the match with Wales is yet another landmark occasion in his remarkable fairytale.
So how does the Spurs and England man prepare for these games? We’ve already had a look at his personal Euro 2016 playlist, and before the tournament got underway in France, Kane sat down with Nike – as part of their Spark Brilliance campaign – to discuss his routine.
Nike: What is your preparation the night before?
Kane: The night before a game it is all about getting an early night. I think a lot about the game, so I constantly picture different scenarios I may find myself in in front of goal.
Of course most of the time it doesn’t happen but it is something I have always done to make sure I am prepared.
I will get a good night’s sleep. I have never really had a problem with that. I fall asleep quite easily even ahead of big games.
The day of the game?
After a good rest I’ll wake up and think through some more scenarios while listening to a bit of music. To be honest I get excited about games as opposed to being nervous. I just want to get out there.
Arriving at the ground?
If I have headphones on when you see me getting off the team bus I’ll probably be listening to R’n’B, anything from the Usher kind-of era.
I’m not in charge of the dressing room music though, that’s usually down to Joe Hart. He has a few mixes he puts on – some are good some are okay. He doesn’t mix them himself though!
Walking onto the pitch?
Once it comes to walking down the tunnel and starting the game everything becomes natural. You go into a zone where you are making movements and runs and you don’t have much time to think about it. Then in a split second a ball falls to you and you don’t have time to think.
While you’re out there?
Every game seems to go pretty quick to me – apart from the ones where you score in the first minute and have to hold on!
Before the tournament kicked off Kane was tipped by former Spurs legend Teddy Sheringham to repeat his Golden Boot success in France, while Tottenham teammate and fellow academy graduate Ryan Mason also gave him his backing in an interview with JOE last week.
But despite proven goal-scorers like Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy and Marcus Rashford waiting in the wings, all hungry for a place at the top of the Three Lions’ attack, the forward doesn’t seem phased by expectation.
“Yeah, no pressure then! But it shows that people are expecting big things of me now and that is how I want people to think of me.
“Even going back to the game against Turkey recently I scored and we won 2-1 but for me that still wasn’t enough.
“In the past I would probably have thought that marked a good game but I feel the expectation where perhaps I should score two or even three goals in a game like that. It’s good to have that pressure and if people are looking for big things from me then I must be doing something right.”
Harry Kane trains and plays for England in Nike Football apparel with AeroSwift technology and the Spark Brilliance Pack Hypervenom II. Explore the England collection on nike.com
