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      Harry Kane will think about what might have been when he faces Man Utd… then thank his lucky stars it never happened

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      HARRY KANE may take a moment to wonder what might have been as he lines up against Manchester United on Wednesday.Then quickly thank his lucky stars that it never happened.
      Harry Kane has 300 club goals after netting for Bayern vs LeverkusenCredit: Getty
      Erik ten Hag’s hopes of signing Kane were ended by Spurs’ £100m valuationCredit: PA
      The Red Devils were keen on signing the England captain — but were not willing to meet Daniel Levy’s £100million price.
      The word at the time was Tottenham’s 280-goal all-time top scorer would have fancied it.
      Fast forward a few months and Bayern Munich’s new star must be more than happy with how things worked out.
      Four goals in as many starts for the Germans — including the first in a 2-2 draw with Leverkusen on Friday — show Kane has settled in nicely in Bavaria.
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      And he must be licking his lips over facing a United side who have shipped TEN goals in their last four Prem matches.
      Erik ten Hag’s men visit the Allianz Arena  in the opening fixture in Group A of this term’s Champions League.
      If United perform the way they did on Saturday you fear for them against Thomas Tuchel’s side.
      Things have gone downhill for United, despite spending almost £200m to strengthen the squad from last season.
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       A Carabao Cup and  top-four  spot was a good start to Ten Hag’s reign — and there was promise of more to come.
      Yet a pattern we have seen before with Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho is emerging.
      After returning to the Champions League, the summer does  not go according to plan and they struggle to push forward.
      To be fair, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed back-to-back finishes in the top four before the same thing happened.
      On Saturday Ten Hag came under fire from fans  for the first time in his 14-month reign.
      He will still believe big buys like Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount will come good.
      He is also missing another new boy in injured midfielder Sofyan Amrabat while it is well documented that Antony and Jadon Sancho  are not part of the squad right now.
      But at the same time, he must be uneasy at the dip in form of a couple of last term’s stars.
      The Red Devils opted for £72m Rasmus Hojlund as their new frontmanCredit: Getty
      Casemiro looked like a five-time Champions League winner for a lot of his first season in England.
      This year the Brazilian, 31, has struggled and was hooked after the hour with United 2-0 down.  
      Centre-back Lisandro Martinez became a cult figure and last term’s injury almost felt like a death in the family.
      But the Argentine has been part of some suspect defensive performances this term.
      The way he dived in as Pascal Gross neatly   side-stepped him to score the Seagulls’ second  will not have escaped Kane’s notice.
      By then, United were in danger of being embarrassed as their vibrant start quickly faded.
      Danny Welbeck took advantage of Adam Lallana’s dummy to give Brighton a 20-minute lead.
      Things could have been different if Hojlund’s goal had stood — but Marcus Rashford allowed the ball to go millimetres over the byline.
      But the Old Trafford faithful knew the game was up when Gross scored on 53 minutes.
      And many had seen enough when Joao Pedro’s effort beat the outstretched arm of Andre Onana with 19 minutes left.
      Sub Hannibal Mejbri pulled one back for United but it only ever looked like a consolation.
      Just six points from their first five games is the club’s worst start since Van Gaal’s first  campaign in charge in 2014-15.
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      Rivals Manchester City and Liverpool are already disappearing over the horizon.
      Old Trafford’s stands were almost deserted at the final whistle.  It is shaping up to be a long season. More

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      Man Utd legend reveals POLICE attacked stars before bus was bricked on Champions League trip as club prepare to go back

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      MANCHESTER UNITED players were attacked by POLICE and their bus was bricked on a dramatic Champions League away day.And now the Red Devils are preparing to go back to the intimidating atmosphere in this season’s European campaign.
      Lee Sharpe revealed the drama of facing Galatasaray awayCredit: Twitter
      Fans headed to the airport to ‘welcome’ UnitedCredit: PA
      United have been pitted against Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray this year.
      And the latter, based in Turkish capital Istanbul, are guaranteed to provide Erik ten Hag’s side with a hostile reception – just like in the 1990s.
      Sir Alex Ferguson led United to take on Galatasaray away in the Champions League in both 1993 and 1994.
      And Red Devils legend Lee Sharpe revealed the details of the first of those memorable trips.
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      He said on the Squeaky Bum Time podcast: “It was unbelievable.
      “Obviously we got bricked at the end of the game, coached bricked again at the end of the game.
      “It was so intense, it was incredible.
      “A few of the lads were getting abuse off the police.
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      “The police had helmets on, visors, big shields, truncheons and they’re giving you a dig as you’re walking down.”
      Sharpe also detailed the raucous response from the home fans when the players came out to warm up.
      The three-time Premier League winner added: “Two hours before the game we walked out, they use the two sides of the ground and they were both packed.
      “It was quiet then when we walked out and this roar went up.
      “One side was silent, the other sang at them.”
      The 1993 visit to Galatasaray famously saw thousands of fans turn up at the airport to introduce United into their lions’ den with ‘Welcome To Hell’ banners and bellboys at the hotel made threatening gestures.
      Eric Cantona saw red and was led away by a policeman – before getting into a fight with the copper after full-time as United crashed out with a 0-0 draw.
      Ten Hag’s side head to the cauldron that is the 52,600-seater RAMS Park on November 29 in Matchday 5.
      Galatasaray’s squad features ex-Premier League stars Hakim Ziyech, Wilfried Zaha, Davinson Sanchez and Tanguy Ndombele – as well as Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens.
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      However, United snubbed Donny van de Beek from their 25-man squad.
      United begin and end Group A against Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich, starting witha trip to Germany on Wednesday.
      Eric Cantona was walked away by police inside the stadiumCredit: Getty
      Galatasaray fans know how to intimidate travelling away teamsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      Bayern Munich ‘already planning for Thomas Tuchel’s exit with Real Madrid legend targeted to replace ex-Chelsea chief’

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      BAYERN MUNICH are reportedly targeting former Real Madrid and Liverpool star Xabi Alonso to replace manager Thomas Tuchel.The German giants are believed to be already planning for the former Chelsea boss’ exit from the club.
      Bayern Munich are reportedly planning for Thomas Tuchel’s exitCredit: AFP
      Xabi Alonso is claimed to be the number one target to replace TuchelCredit: EPA
      Tuchel was only appointed as Bayern Munich manager in March as he replaced Julian Nagelsmann.
      The club manage to win the Bundesliga title, although they did need help from Borussia Dortmund who failed to win on the final day of the season.

      Reports in Germany have claimed that Tuchel is “irritating” the club’s board with his negative comments about the club’s summer transfer business.
      Further claims have now suggested that Bayern are already planning for Tuchel to leave the club, and his replacement has been identified.
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      It has been claimed Alonso is Bayern’s number one target to replace Tuchel.
      The Spaniard has built a strong reputation as a manager since taking the helm at Bayer Leverkusen.
      Alonso is familiar with Bayern, having spent the last three years of his playing career at the club after leaving Real Madrid.
      During his time at the Allianz Arena, the midfielder won three league titles, a DFB-Poka title and German Super Cup.
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      Since becoming manager of Leverkusen, he has overseen 21 wins from 41 games.
      When Alonso was appointed, he managed to drag the club away from the relegation zone to a sixth-placed finish and a semi-final in the Europa League.
      Alonso’s performance saw him linked with the vacant Tottenham job in the summer before Ange Postecoglou took the role.
      He is also a potential target for Madrid once Carlo Ancelotti leaves the club at the end of the season.
      He’s also been tipped to one day take over from Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. More

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      Supercomputer predicts who will get Champions League football with Man Utd and Chelsea’s top four chances PLUMMETING

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      A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted Manchester United, Newcastle AND Chelsea to miss out on the top four this season.The equation to secure Champions League qualification has changed slightly for the 2023/24 campaign, with fifth place also likely to be good enough for a spot in Europe’s elite competition.
      Manchester United have lost two of their opening four Premier League gamesCredit: PA
      Chelsea have picked up just four points from their first four Premier League matchesCredit: Getty
      Premier League clubs chances of European football
      That is dependent on English clubs performing well in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League this season.
      Fifth place would have qualified in seven of the last 11 seasons.
      However, the top four spots are the only ones guaranteed Champions League football.
      And Opta’s supercomputer has determined that Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have the best chance of clinching those places.
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      Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top four are 80 per cent or higher – with the champions’ a staggering 99.93 per cent.
      Spurs’ Champions League percentage stands at 31.68, more than three per cent higher than Man Utd – who have dropped from 63.2 per cent to 28.4 per cent following a dismal start to the season.

      Then come Brighton, Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa whose top four chances range between seven and 20 per cent.
      And Brentford boast a 4.18 per cent chance of Champions League qualification – and a slightly higher chance of Europa League football.
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      But one huge side missing from the top 10 is Chelsea.
      Mauricio Pochettino’s men saw their top-four chances stand at around 16 per cent a few weeks ago.
      But defeats to West Ham and Nottingham Forest have seen that number fall significantly to just 1.3.
      Meanwhile, the same supercomputer has deemed Luton [68.15 per cent], Sheffield United [64.46 per cent] and Everton [52.34 per cent] as the three teams most likely to be relegated.
      They are followed by Burnley [43.23 per cent] and Bournemouth [41.96 per cent], with a big gap to the likes of Wolves [14.37 per cent], Nottingham Forest [9.84 per cent] and Fulham [3.38 per cent].
      Chelsea’s chances of relegation stand at 0.99 per cent.
      Erling Haaland tops the scoring charts again More

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      Jude Bellingham fumes at EAFC24 rating as game claims he has got WORSE in huge aspect

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM was far from happy after finding out his pace rating for EAFC 24.The England midfielder announced himself on the global stage with a string of impressive displays with Borussia Dortmund last season and the 2022 World Cup.
      Jude Bellingham has been a revelation since his move to Real MadridCredit: Getty
      The England international has scored five times in four appearances for Los BlancosCredit: The Mega Agency
      Bellingham was far from happy after learning his EAFC 24 pace ratingCredit: YOUTUBE@REALMADRID
      His form landed him a mega-money move to European giants Real Madrid, where he’s flourished in his first four outings for the Spaniards – scoring five goals already.
      As with hundreds of players around the world, Bellingham recently learned his rating for the upcoming EAFC 24 video game – although he discovered his stats alongside Real team-mates Brahim Diaz, Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo.
      “I’ve got to be like 84,” the former Birmingham City star said when he was asked to predict his pace racing.
      But he was way off the mark and his jaw nearly hit the floor when he was told he’d only been given a 76.
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      Diaz was quick to mock his Los Blancos team-mates’ rating – and his running style.
      The Spaniard said: “You’re running like this all the time bro.”
      A perplexed and stunned Bellingham couldn’t believe the rating, adding: “You’re joking?
      “I was more last year, so I’ve gone down?”
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      Bellingham was left gobsmacked by his 76 speed ratingCredit: YOUTUBE@REALMADRID
      Bellingham may not be happy with his stats for the soon-to-be-released video game, but he can have no complaints about his numbers for Real Madrid.
      The 20-year-old is the top goalscorer for Carlo Ancelotti’s side this season with five goals in four matches, plus an assist.
      He picked up his sixth goal of the season in England’s 3-1 win over old rivals Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
      But the soft-spoken midfielder is refusing to get too far ahead of himself, telling beIN Sports: “I’m always learning.
      “I’m so lucky to have played with so many great players with my last club and even more so at my new club which is a big boost for me and for my own confidence to play with such great players.
      “I’m just learning all the time really. I’m trying to add more attributes to my game and trying to affect the ones I’ve already got.
      “If I can keep being effective in goal and doing the things that I do well already overall in my game then I think I could be doing well and hopefully have a good season.
      “So it’s important that I keep it up.”
      Bellingham and his Real Madrid team-mates will be back in action on Sunday night, welcoming Real Sociedad to the Bernabeu. More

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      Dream Team to ramp up several notches in Gameweek 5 as European competitions get underway

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      THE international break may have provided a momentary lull but Dream Team will go up several notches once Gameweek 5 gets underway.That’s because EIGHT clubs will be in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League fixtures at the weekend.

      PLAY HIGHER OR LOWER? WITH DREAM TEAM EVERY DAY TO EARN XP

      Dream Team ramps up once the European competitions startCredit: DREAM TEAM
      Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle will begin their Champions League campaigns before Liverpool, Brighton and West Ham get going in the Europa League – with Aston Villa being England’s representative in the Europa Conference League.
      Gaffers only have to reflect upon last season, when Pep Guardiola’s side and the Hammers triumphed in their respective quests, to understand the value the European competitions bring to Dream Team.
      The formula is simple: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
      The likes of James Maddison (£4.1m), Raheem Sterling (£3.8m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£3.7m) are justifiably popular after their electric performances across the first few Gameweeks but without European games to bolster their schedules, their rivals are likely to gain ground in the coming weeks.
      Saying that, it would be a risky move to ditch an asset like Tottenham’s in-form No10 because his imposing tally of 46 points is evidence of the fact he’s more than capable of making up for his comparatively relaxed schedule with massive domestic hauls – he’s taken Bournemouth and Burnley for 15 points each in his last two league outings.
      Can Maddison maintain top spot among midfielders without European games?Credit: Rex
      However, it’s generally advisable for Dream Team bosses to ensure they have ample active players in midweek once the European group stages commence.
      Striking this balance can be difficult.
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      For example, which player will score more points in Gameweek 5: Maddison against Sheffield United or Moussa Diaby (£3.5m) against Crystal Palace and Legia Warsaw?
      The latter averages seven points-per-game this season while the former averages 9.2 so in theory the Frenchman should comfortably outscore the England playmaker given he has potentialyl twice as many minutes at his disposal.
      However, any gaffer that makes such a transfer could easily be punished if Maddison continues his fine form and Diaby fails to register a goal involvement in either of his fixtures.
      It’s also wise to consider which players have favourable continental fixtures and who might be up against it.
      For example, Arsenal and Man City were gifted relatively friendly groups in the Champions League while Man United will face Bayern Munich twice and Newcastle have a ‘group of death’ to negotiate.
      Newcastle will play PSG, Borussia Dortmund and Milan in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUPS:

      ARSENAL
      Sevilla
      PSV
      Lens

      MANCHESTER CITY
      RB Leipzig
      Red Star Belgrade
      Young Boys

      MANCHESTER UNITED
      Bayern Munich
      Copenhagen
      Galatasaray

      NEWCASTLE
      AC Milan
      PSG
      Borussia Dortmund

      In the Europa League, Liverpool’s group looks ripe for plentiful points assuming Jurgen Klopp plans to take the competition seriously – he is more accustomed to the Champions League these days.
      Brighton and West Ham’s groups are harder to gauge but given the former are one of the most dynamic attacking sides in the Premier League the likes of Kaoru Mitoma (£3.7m), Solly March (£3.9m) and Evan Ferguson (£3m) should enjoy themselves on Thursday nights.
      EUROPA LEAGUE GROUPS:

      WEST HAM
      Olympiacos
      Freiburg
      TSC

      BRIGHTON
      Marseille
      Ajax
      AEK Athens

      LIVERPOOL
      LASK
      Union Saint-Gilloise
      Toulouse

      Too good for the Europa League?Credit: PA
      The story of Villa’s season so far is that they’ve come undone against strong opposition (Newcastle, Liverpool) but swept aside weaker outfits (Everton, Hibs, Burnley) in some style.
      If that’s to be a long-term trend then Dream Team managers can expect healthy returns from Unai Emery’s boys in Europe’s tertiary competition.
      Last season, David Moyes’ side struggled domestically but the likes of Said Benrahma (£3.3m) and Jarrod Bowen (£4.8m) maintained lofty rankings by milking the Europa Conference League for all it was worth.
      Surely Matty Cash (£2.8m), Ollie Watkins (£4.4m) and company will do the same again this term.
      EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE GROUP:
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      Aston Villa
      AZ Alkmaar
      Legia Warsaw
      Zrinjski Mostar

      The start of the European competitions represents a pivotal turning point in the Dream Team season – don’t get left behind!

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      Incredible Champions League final ball is ‘leaked’ with special nod to England

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      THE BRAND new Uefa Champions League 2024 Final matchball has allegedly been “leaked” online.And it reportedly includes a subtle nod to the nation that will host this season’s showpiece.
      Man City will be hoping to repeat their Champions League success in June at WembleyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The new Champions League Final ball has allegedly been leakedCredit: Footy Headlines
      Europe’s showpiece competition will get underway in nine days time with the first batch of group games.
      That will be followed by the top two from each going on to play in the knockout stages.
      It will be then that the new matchball will be introduced into play.
      And it will be used all the way until the Champions League Final.
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      Footy Headlines website have now claimed that they not only have “the first leaked images” of the matchball – but they have also shared them.
      The ball they are reporting is a predominantly orange design and is covered in the Uefa competition’s blue and white iconic stars.
      The pattern on it also appears to resemble the claws of a lion.
      And that is believed to be a nod to our very own England with Wembley Stadium due to host the final on Saturday 1 June.
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      It is also very familiar to the 2019 Champions League final matchball – and it seems to be a hit with supporters already.
      “It looks absolutely awesome,” declared one on Twitter.
      Another reacted with several heart emojis while a fellow fan called it “amazing”. More

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      England have finally ‘earned respect’ of European rivals and are ‘blessed’ to have Kane & Bellingham for Euro 2024 push

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      THEY do not hope to win major trophies at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid — they absolutely expect it.And the fact that England’s two finest footballers, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, are now experiencing that supreme winning mentality at two of Europe’s biggest clubs is good news for Gareth Southgate.
      Harry Kane has made an incredible start to life at Bayern MunichCredit: GETTY
      Jude Bellingham has made a rip-roaring start to life at Real MadridCredit: GETTY
      Kane and Bellingham will be pivotal for England’s Euro 2024 hopesCredit: Getty
      Bellingham, 20, has made a lightning start to Bernabeu life — leading LaLiga’s scoring charts with five goals in four games and winning Player of the Month at the first time of asking in Spain’s top flight.
      Three Lions skipper Kane is so impressed with the ex-Borussia Dortmund star’s storming progress in the Spanish capital that he is concerned his international team-mate could be a rival for the European Golden Boot this season.
      Kane has netted three league goals in as many appearances for Bayern ahead of tonight’s Euros qualifier against Ukraine in Poland, as England close in on securing a place at next summer’s finals.
      And Kane, 30, said: “I’ve seen Jude’s great start in LaLiga. He’s managed to score a few goals so he’s competing with me for the most goals this season!
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      “It is too early for me to mention the European Golden Boot to him yet.
      “But if we get to March and he is still up there with me, I might have a few words.
      “It’s great to see. He’s an extremely good player, a great person, very mature for his age so it’s great to see him doing well.
      “We haven’t spoken about the German league too much.
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      “He asked me how I’m getting on with the language because he found it difficult.
      “But we want as many of our England players as possible to be playing at the highest level.
      “Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are two of the biggest clubs in the world without question.
      “We’ve got great players who have played in big moments and big occasions in our squad — not just for the national team but for their clubs.
      “Me and Jude being at these clubs will only add to that. I think it adds another level of confidence to the team, knowing that we’re all playing in those types of games.”
      After failing to win a single trophy at Tottenham, Kane is now grappling with the expectation of winning every week at Bayern. He said: “It’s definitely a different pressure compared to what I felt at Spurs.
      “Of course, we wanted to win things at Spurs but if you went a couple of games without winning then it wasn’t a disaster.“The feeling at Bayern is that you have to win every game.
      “We won the first two league games 4-0 and 3-1 and there was still talk about not being too happy with the way we played.
      Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are two of England’s brightest stars and and lighting up the world stageCredit: Getty
      “That’s part and parcel of being at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
      “But we’ve had a good start and I am enjoying feeling those different emotions and that’s part of the reason that I wanted to go.
      “And we start the Champions League campaign when we get back, which Bayern expect to win — or have a good chance of winning. So you’re going into those games with maybe a different feeling to what I’ve had in the past.
      “I believe playing for Bayern will make me a better player.
      “Whether I win things or not, the decision came down to putting me in those situations.
      “With Bayern Munich, sometimes we expect them to win because they have won the league for the last 11 years.
      “But in my short period there is still a lot of pressure to win these trophies. We have not won the German Cup for a few years.
      “And we have not won the Champions League for a few years so there is definitely a lot to gain and a lot of pressure to take.
      “Just the experiences of having title runs and cup runs and a Champions League run will only add — hopefully — to handling pressure in certain situations.
      “If we are going to win anything with England, we are going to have to deal with that.
      Harry Kane admits the recent success of Gareth Southgate’s troops has added pressureCredit: REUTERS
      “Me, being captain, I want to put myself in that position as much as possible. I set my standards as high as they can possibly go.”
      With Bellingham having previously lit up the Bundesliga with Dortmund and Kane now banging in the goals at Bayern, Kane now believes there is a renewed respect for English football in Germany and across Europe.
      He said: “I’m not too sure about whether they fear us.
      “I think in recent games and in the last Euros, the way we performed . . . I think we’ve earned the respect of Germany, 100 per cent.
      “I think we’ve earned the respect of a lot of nations around the world. Individually, with me and Jude having played in Germany, but I think our biggest strength is as a collective.
      “And when other countries look at us, that’s our biggest positive.”
      Kane’s fellow Three Lions stalwart Jordan Henderson, 33, faces the prospect of protests from England’s LGBTQ+ fans tonight.
      That follows his controversial move from Liverpool to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal. And Kane said: “I think every England fan is entitled to their opinions.
      “The majority of the England fans will be behind the team and, once the game starts, will be fully behind everyone. Jordan is a good friend of mine and a great person.
      “He has a job to do — as we all have — and that’s where his focus will be.”
      Jordan Henderson will face protests from England’s LGBTQ+ fans tonightCredit: GETTY
      Meanwhile, Southgate was quick to pile praise on Bellingham ahead of the Ukraine clash.
      Southgate said: “He has a huge maturity. He has a good emotional intelligence.
      “He has had to go into a dressing room and an interesting dynamic where some world-class players are there and he is there to ultimately take their place.
      “But knowing him, he will have approached them off the pitch with huge respect and will have gone into the training sessions and the games ready to compete and show what a good player he is.
      “He found that balance brilliantly when he first joined us and I have no doubt that is what has happened while he has been there.
      “He has had to show a slightly different side because he has played a little higher with them losing Benzema and his game is suited to forward running and arriving in the box and the nice thing from our point of view is that he is scoring more goals, which is great.”
      Bellingham is certain to start in midfield tonight along with Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice as he looks to continue his red-hot form.
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      Southgate added: “I’m not completely surprised because of the personality he has and the calmness he has, coupled with the competitiveness, you never know how it is going to go because you don’t know how the team is going to play and whether the role you get at the start is going to suit you.
      “For us, we are blessed. We have got several very very good players so it is exciting.” More