Harry Kane has failed in his quest for a trophy as England fell to Spain in the European Championship final, marking the striker’s fifth defeat in a major final.
Despite his impressive 44-goal record with Bayern Munich, Kane has been hampered by a lingering back injury that has affected his performance throughout the Euro tournament.
The 30-year-old had been dealing with fitness issues since suffering a back injury before the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. Despite insisting he was fit during the Euros, he never fully looked at his best.
The former Tottenham captain was so ineffective last night that he was replaced by Ollie Watkins just after the hour mark.
Throughout the tournament, he struggled to make an impact and lacked service when England needed him, raising questions about whether he would ever lift a trophy in his career.
Harry Kane only had one touch in the opposition’s box across the EURO 2020 and EURO 2024 finals.
In the first half of Sunday’s Euro final, Kane had just one shot blocked by Rodri, who then had to come off injured at halftime.
Although he had been substituted in previous games against Switzerland and Holland that England won, this time he could only watch as a disappointing twist unfolded for Gareth Southgate’s team.
Manager Gareth Southgate now holds the unfortunate title of being the first manager to suffer defeat twice in the European Championship finals, with Kane unable to deliver the victory England so desperately needed.
After the loss, tears filled the eyes of every Englishman, a stark reminder of England’s 58-year trophy drought.
Harry Kane’s series of heartbreaking defeats
The Bayern Munich forward experienced a series of heartbreaking defeats in major competitions, including a loss in the World Cup 2018 semi-final against Croatia, a heartbreak against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, and a missed penalty in the World Cup 2022 quarter-final against France.
Kane believed Euro 2024 was his time to shine but the ‘cursed’ captain’s performance gave people the notion that England would have performed better without him.
Despite his great achievements at Tottenham, he failed to secure the trophies he desired.
During his time at Tottenham, Kane experienced disappointment in several finals, including a third-place finish in the Premier League in 2016 behind Leicester, as well as being runners-up to Chelsea in the following year.
Additionally, he suffered defeats in the EFL Cup finals with Tottenham in 2015 and 2021, as well as a lackluster performance in the Champions League final in 2019 against Liverpool.
Harry Kane’s quest in search of trophy in Bayern met with disappointment
Upon moving to Bayern Munich in search of trophies, Kane’s misfortune continued as he narrowly missed out on a trophy in his first game, the German Super Cup.
The England forward also saw his club suffer embarrassment in the Bundesliga at the hands of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
What’s next for Harry Kane?
From being named the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2015 to winning multiple Golden Boots in 2016, 2017, and 2021, Harry Kane has proven time and time again that he is a force to be reckoned with in the world of football.
At this phase of his career, his focus is to win a major title. The star striker is determined to end that drought with Bayern next season and add to his already impressive collection of individual accolades.
With his incredible skill and leadership on the pitch, Kane is truly deserving of a major international title.
While Kane may have more opportunities with England, he should know that time is not on his side.
The 30-year-old striker knows that he must make the most of every chance he gets to bring home a trophy for his country.
As he enters his twilight years, there is hope that he may finally have the opportunity to win a major trophy for his country at the 2026 World Cup.
However, it remains uncertain if he will be able to accomplish this on a global stage, having fallen short at the continental level twice in a row.
