A look at the numbers as Kane matches England record
Harry Kane’s sixth goal of the World Cup took him level with Gary Lineker for England’s record at a single tournament.
Kane struck from the penalty spot against Colombia, with England eventually winning through in a penalty shootout in Moscow.
Only Lineker has scored more World Cup goals overall for England than Golden Boot pace-setter Kane and here, Press Association Sport takes a look at the pair’s statistics on the big stage.
Sharp shooter
World Cup Russia 2018: top goal scorers so far
– Kane has scored with all six of his shots on target at this World Cup, with his goals coming from only nine attempts in all (two off target and one blocked). Even those numbers may be inflated by his third goal against Panama, when Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot looped in off his heels, being classed as a “shot”.
– His goals include three penalties – two against Panama and one against Colombia on Tuesday, when of course he also scored in the shootout that secured England’s progression.
– That contributes to four goals with his right foot, as well as a headed winner against Tunisia and what the official tournament website terms a “goal scored by backheel” against Panama.
– Kane’s goals have come in only three appearances and England have yet to score a goal without him on the pitch, either against Belgium or after he was substituted against Panama.
– Kane has now scored in six successive caps, a feat last achieved by Tommy Lawton between October 1938 and May 1939.
Six appeal
England´s all-time top World Cup scorers
– Only once before has an England player reached half a dozen goals in a single World Cup – Lineker in 1986.
– Lineker’s goals came in five games and, like Kane’s, featured a hat-trick – in his case against Poland in the final group game. He followed up with two against Paraguay in the next round.
Stat: Lukaku is the first player to score 2 or more goals in consecutive World Cup games since Diego Maradona in 1986 (England & Belgium). Some jug-eared goal-hanger also managed that feat in 86. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 23, 2018
– Kane’s run in Russia also echoes how clinical Lineker was from close range – all six of the latter’s goals in 1986 came from in or very close to the six-yard box. Kane scored twice from that range against Tunisia to go with his three spot-kicks and the fluke against Panama.
– Lineker added four goals at the next World Cup in 1990 to leave him as England’s all-time record holder on 10. Kane has moved ahead of 1966 hero Geoff Hurst into second place on the list.