England’s World Cup campaign began with a 4-2 triumph over Croatia in Dallas, helped in no small part by a brace from the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, Harry Kane.
The England captain twice put the Three Lions ahead during the first half, but that did not prevent former Germany international Dietmar Hamann, working as a pundit for Irish broadcaster RTÉ Sport, from declaring that “the jury’s out” on the Bayern Munich striker.
The debate surrounding Kane’s ability to deliver when the pressure intensifies is nothing new. Indeed, it has been a ubiquitous feature of the discussion around much of his career. It is also an argument that struggles to withstand proper scrutiny once his achievements are considered in the round.
A quick scan of the history books shows the 32-year-old has consistently scored important goals for England in knockout football.
Here’s a rundown of the highlights:
