WORLD OF PAIN DRIVING KANE

Penalty miss against France in 2022 was Harry’s lowest moment. He’s scored all 31 spot-kicks since

- BY JOHN CROSS

HARRY KANE admits the worst moment of his life is the driving force behind his dreams of World Cup glory.

Three years ago, Kane missed a last-gasp penalty in the quarterfinal 2-1 defeat to France. If he had scored, the tie would have gone to extra-time.

In the aftermath, Kane became obsessive about working on his penalty-taking technique and scored his next 31 spot-kicks.

That alone shows just how much he is driven by disappointment. And Kane, 32, is driven by that heartbreak going into next summer's tournament, when he will again shoulder the hopes of a nation as he leads Thomas Tuchel’s England to the United States.

“I’d say that was probably the worst that I felt in any moment,” Kane recalled. “I've obviously lost finals before. To have that responsibility, you almost feel like it fell on my shoulders, and I guess not being able to execute something that I've been able to execute many a time in my career.

“That was the hardest part to process and take. But as always as a sportsman, putting yourself in that situation, there’s going to be moments where it doesn't quite go your way.

“But the way I learned from that, the way that motivated me to get even better and improve, not just from the penalty side in terms of improving my technique but as an all-round player.

“After another major tournament, you get over it and get on with it.