Royal Marine’s tip to Gareth Southgate proved to be the making of Harry Kane and England after gruelling Commando camp
HARRY KANE was born in Walthamstow but the England captain was made in the Royal Marines — and Glasgow.
As the Three Lions prepare to take on Scotland in a commemorative friendly on Tuesday, Kane recalled the drama of his only previous visit to Hampden Park for a World Cup qualifier in June 2017.
He had been chosen to captain the side for the first time after standing out at a Commando Training Centre boot camp in Devon.
And Kane stood up to be counted on the pitch, too, grabbing a stoppage-time equaliser after two late free-kicks by Leigh Griffiths had cancelled out the opening goal by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Kane said: “First of all I was extremely proud to be leading the boys out.
“The noise at Hampden Park is still one of the best atmospheres I’ve been a part of.
“We got ahead and then they quickly turned it around with two great free-kicks and then you’re thinking about being an Englishman losing to Scotland.
“That goal reminded me how big that international is and what it means to the fans.
“I’ve been on a couple of golf trips to Scotland and the caddies still remind me of that goal and how much it’s hurt them.
“It means I have some good fun whenever I’m in Scotland.”
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It was something of a sliding doors moment, for Kane, for Gareth Southgate, and for England.
The match was only Southgate’s third after being appointed as permanent boss and defeat by the Scots would have given fuel to those who doubted his and Kane’s pedigree as leaders.
The Bayern Munich frontman added: “Sometimes you look back at moments that, at the time, you don’t realise how important they were.
“For me as captain, losing to Scotland in your first game is not something you want on your resume at all. Even though we drew the game, it felt a little bit like a win.
“Who knows, things might have been a little bit different if I didn’t score that goal — so I’m definitely grateful I did.”
Gareth asked some of the Marines afterwards who they thought were natural leaders… I think that might have helped in me becoming captain.
Harry Kane
It is worth remembering that Kane had never played for Southgate before the Scotland game because of injury.
So why did the England boss believe the then Tottenham striker could go straight into such a big match as captain? The boot camp earlier in June 2017 was a key factor.
One of Southgate’s grandfathers had been in the Royal Marines and so the opinion of soldiers from the elite force carried great weight.
Kane continued: “I remember that trip very clearly. We had a fantastic time and I think Gareth used that to see who stood out in terms of leadership.
“Leadership comes in many forms. It isn’t just the guy in the front shooting the paintball. Maybe [it was] the way I got on with the Marines and the way I handled certain situations.
“I know that Gareth asked some of the Marines afterwards who they thought were natural leaders, who was approachable and who other players were leaning towards to talk to, things like that.
“I think that might have helped in me becoming captain.”
Being skipper seems to have brought the best out of Kane.
He has led England out in some of the most important matches in the country’s recent history, including the 2020 Euros final at Wembley and the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup.
Yet the man who does not shy away from responsibility has had his share of moments he would rather forget, too. Such as blasting over a spot-kick in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against France.
Although he, Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson all wore the armband at times, it was Kane Southgate chose as permanent captain in May 2018 ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
Sometimes you look back at moments that, at the time, you don’t realise how important they were.
Harry Kane
Before the Royal Marines boot camp and that Scotland game, Kane had managed a modest five goals in 17 England appearances.
Now he is the country’s record scorer with 58 in 84 games.
Kane said: “It gave me loads of confidence [being captain].
“It was the start of a journey none of us knew how it was going to go.
“The fact he saw me as that type of leader in the team and that I could have that role, as a striker, it just gave me loads of belief.
“I would have only been about 24 at the time, pretty young and pretty new into my career.
“So just to have that faith from Gareth was important — and I think I’ve been able to repay that.”