HARRY KANE missed a ‘sitter’ on the stroke of half-time leaving England fans in agony during the Euro 2020 last 16 showdown with Germany.
But the Three Lions captain, 27, more than made up for it as he scored the second in a famous 2-0 win that sent England into the quarter-finals.
The Tottenham striker managed just a handful of touches in the first half as his disappointing form at the tournament continued.
Kane had a golden opportunity to get his first goal of the Euros in the first and only minute of first-half added time.
Raheem Sterling made a dangerous charge into the box, with the ball ricocheting off a German defender and into the path of Kane, with only Manuel Neuer to beat.
Rather than take a shot with his left foot, Kane opted to attempt to round Neuer, only for Mats Hummels to scramble the ball away.
But Kane more than made up for it after the break as he headed home a Jack Grealish cross to make it 2-0 and seal a clash with Ukraine in the quarter-finals.
Raheem Sterling had opened the scoring for England – with Grealish playing a crucial part in the build-up – turning in a Luke Shaw cross from close range.
And Kane sent a wave of relief around Wembley when he headed home, minutes after Thomas Muller had somehow missed a golden one-on-one.
After criticising Kane during the break, BBC pundit and England legend Alan Shearer said: “We’ve been waiting for Harry to ignite, that might just start his tournament off.”
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England fans had been were left with their heads in their hands, with Shearer criticising the Tottenham star for missing what he called a ‘sitter’.
Speaking at half-time on the BBC, Shearer said: “A confident Harry Kane sticks it away.
“I don’t think he even needs to think about the touch he just does it.
“Naturally Sterling does really well it takes a bit of a deflection and falls perfectly for Harry Kane.
“Can he stick it away with his left foot? He’s taken a really, really poor touch.
“That’s a sitter. That’s the big opportunity that what he’s been waiting for.
“Harry’s got to offer more.
“The big talk is about him coming deep for the ball, but look at his movement or lack of it, should I say?
“He doesn’t move at all. He’s got to try and help the team lot more than he’s dong.”
Speaking on commentary, Jermaine Jenas agreed with Shearer’s assessment saying: “The question is: Can Kane just hit this towards goal with his left foot?
“Straight away he decides to try and take it round Neuer…
“Mats Hummels has done what he’s done most those 45 minutes. Right place right time.”
But Jurgen Klinsmann suggested Kane is doing the right thing by dropping deep, as it helps build his confidence.
The Germany legend said: “Harry Kane has often showed with Spurs he didn’t get a rhythm in the game then he drops back and gets some touches and becomes lively.
“Then he goes back in a No9 role and this is about confidence because us forwards, we know we need to be alive, we need to be in the game.
“If he roams around more he does himself a favour and does his team a favour.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
