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World Cup Golden Boot: Harry Kane on brink of finishing as top scorer

Last updated on .From the section World Cupcomments728

England striker Harry Kane is in a commanding position to finish the 2018 World Cup as top scorer, with only the final left to be played.

Kane, 24, ended the tournament with six goals after failing to score as the Three Lions lost 2-0 to Belgium in Saturday's third-place play-off.

France strikers Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe have both scored three times so far in Russia.

Croatia, their opponents in Sunday's final, have three players on two goals.

World Cup Golden Boot table: Harry Kane - 6. Denis Cheryshev, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku - 4. Artem Dzyuba, Antonie Griezmann, Yerry Mina, Eden Hazard, Mbappe, Diego Costa -3.

Kane, Premier League top scorer in two of the past three seasons, equalled Gary Lineker's England record for number of goals in a tournament, set in 1986.

The Tottenham player also became the first Englishman since Tommy Lawton in 1939 to score in six consecutive internationals.

Kane's goals all came in England's first four games, with three from the penalty spot, and he failed to score in his last three matches at the tournament.

"It shows we had a good group stage and scored a lot of goals," he told ITV after Saturday's match. "Obviously I'm disappointed I couldn't get a goal in the last few games.

"Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it doesn't. But if I win it, it'll be something I'll be very proud of."

How Kane scored his goals

Only one of Kane's goals came from open play - here is how he scored them all.

First goal (v Tunisia): John Stones' header from Ashley Young's corner is brilliantly saved and Kane taps in from three yards out.

Second goal (v Tunisia): Kieran Trippier's corner is flicked on by Harry Maguire and Kane heads in from three yards out.

Third goal (v Panama): From the penalty spot, high into the left-hand corner.

Fourth goal (v Panama): Deja vu. From the penalty spot again, into the same corner.

Fifth goal (v Panama): Kane's only goal from open play. Ruben Loftus-Cheek's low strike deflects off his heel and sails into the back of the net.

Sixth goal (v Colombia): Another from the penalty spot, straight down the middle.

The numbers behind Kane's goals

  • Kane had 14 shots in the tournament.
  • He scored with all six of his shots on target.
  • All the goals came from inside the box - five with his right foot, one with his head.
  • Half of his goals were scored from the penalty spot.

How Kane ranks among his peers

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728 comments

  • Comment posted by BeardsleysBum, at 17:39 14 Jul 2018

    The most important thing is winning the tournament.

    If there wasn't this media hubbub about the golden boot, maybe Kane would have squared it to Sterling for a tap in to make it 2-0 against Croatia.

    Can't stand our media.

  • Comment posted by Mike, at 18:21 14 Jul 2018

    What a farce. Yes, Kane is a genuinely good striker but for anybody to win the Golden Boot for managing two tap-ins, three penalties and an outrageous fluke rather diminishes the coveted nature of this award. No?

  • Comment posted by Huevos Y Bacon, at 17:46 14 Jul 2018

    Sorry, not impressed by Kane this World Cup. Not a leader and went missing when it really counted. I’m sure he’ll be chuffed with his golden boot, but it’s fooling no one.

  • Comment posted by Death of football , at 17:37 14 Jul 2018

    Didn't deserve it. He wasn't much of a danger from open play, especially when you consider the class of opposition England played against. If he's as good as the media and fans say he is, he should have plundered at least ten goals. Over rated, over hyped English hysteria

  • Comment posted by RDW_SW, at 17:45 14 Jul 2018

    Golden boot for 3 penalties, 1 tap in, 1 free header from 5 yards and a deflection.

  • Comment posted by dogeared, at 17:33 14 Jul 2018

    At both club and country level Kane appears to be more motivated by personal accolades than team work.

  • Comment posted by two-jacks, at 17:31 14 Jul 2018

    A great achievement but I'm of the belief that penalties shouldn't count.

  • Comment posted by User0756768135, at 18:16 14 Jul 2018

    Remember that goal he stole from Eriksen. Shocking behaviour. I will never forget it. I will always mention it in a post if the post has anything to do with Kane.

  • Comment posted by kaz7, at 18:19 14 Jul 2018

    Kane has done very well for someone who seems to have been on tranquilizers for most of the knockout stage.

  • Comment posted by Dragonborn, at 17:41 14 Jul 2018

    As captain you know Kane will say that he'd swap The Golden Boot for a World Cup win but all Spurs fans know he won't mean it lol.

  • Comment posted by Old Lady, at 17:36 14 Jul 2018

    Nothing against Kane .. FIFA should change golden boot ruling - penalties don't count. Average goal scored per game and get penalised for number of yellow/red cards.

  • Comment posted by tydyer1977, at 17:43 14 Jul 2018

    the most embarrassing golden boot ever!!! how can we blame sterling again like the euros to cover for weak kane who disappears against decent sides and only touches the ball on penalties? not worked the goalie properly from open play all tournament

  • Comment posted by Cav, at 20:21 14 Jul 2018

    Couldn't score against Sweden, Croatia, Belgium.Just shows how weak England's group was.Lets be honest if they had played any of those teams at the start of the tournament they wouldn't have got to the semis and Kane wouldn't have got six goals.He is not world class, a decent player yes, but not world class.

  • Comment posted by BishBashBosh, at 17:35 14 Jul 2018

    Who even cares BBC????

  • Comment posted by Stef74, at 20:12 14 Jul 2018

    Has there ever been a less deserving winner of the GB than Kane.

    One of the least impressive striking displays at this WC yet he’s on to be top scorer, all because he was gifted 3 goals by the penalty spot & 1which he scored by accident.

    Makes a total mockery of the award.

  • Comment posted by User0351151167, at 17:51 14 Jul 2018

    Just as well he scored that hat-trick against Panama as he's been pants for his last 2 games, No way is he the best striker.

  • Comment posted by michaelo, at 17:58 14 Jul 2018

    Worst winner of the Golden Boot ever!!!!!! 3 penalties, a deflection he knew nothing about, a tap in and a headed tap in, and all against minnows of world football. Not deserved at all!!!!

  • Comment posted by F1 forever, at 20:45 14 Jul 2018

    The mistake was making HK captain.
    You need someone at the back who can see what's happening. There was nobody to organise the team on the pitch and it showed.

  • Comment posted by p4rvz, at 18:21 14 Jul 2018

    Such a selfish player... only chases personal accolades... had he squared the ball to sterling against Croatia instead of being greedy England would be playing in tomorrow's final and not on the plane home...

  • Comment posted by Fartface, at 18:33 14 Jul 2018

    Proved nothing, Mbappe has half the goals he has but his performances have been 2-3 times better. Kane did nothing at this world cup other than stand around alot..

2018 Fifa World Cup