Tom Reid reports: England captain Harry Kane has fired up his team-mates with an impassioned rallying cry ahead of their World Cup semi-final showdown against Argentina. The Three Lions, resplendent in their sapphire blue kit, are on the cusp of history – and Kane believes they're yet to unleash their full potential.
It's been a journey marked by drama and tension – not to mention a few words of criticism from manager Thomas Tuchel. The German tactician was less than impressed with England's quarter-final display against Norway, describing it as 'sloppy' and labelling the team's performance as 'a lot of technical mistakes'. But Kane isn't buying into the negativity. Far from it – he's convinced that his side has another gear to shift up.
'He knows we've got a way to go yet,' Kane declared, 'and I feel that we can show more quality and intensity than we did against Norway.' And as for Tuchel's suggestion that England 'got lucky', Kane is having none of it. 'We know we're playing good teams – but we also know we've got the ability to beat them,' he insisted.
Jude Bellingham, who scored a crucial goal in extra-time against Norway, echoed Kane's sentiments. The young midfielder praised his team-mates for digging deep and producing a performance that won't soon be forgotten. 'It was a tough shift out there,' Bellingham acknowledged, 'but we showed great character and spirit.' And as England prepare to take on the mighty Argentines in what promises to be an epic encounter, Kane's words of encouragement are music to their ears.