It just wasn’t to be for England.Despite taking a fifth-minute lead against Croatia thanks to Kieran Trippier’s superb free-kick, Gareth Southgate’s side will be competing for third place, rather than in the World Cup final.Ivan Perisic equalised with a little more than 20 minutes remaining, while Mario Mandzukic won the match in the second-half of extra-time.While the best the Three Lions can hope for is third place, they might still take home some silverware. Well, Harry Kane could anyway.The England striker has bagged six goals during the tournament, two more than Romelu Lukaku who he will face at the weekend.In truth, though, it’s been a very underwhelming tournament for Kane.He bundled in two goals from corners against Tunisia in the opening match, while his hat-trick against Panama consisted of two penalties and a deflected shot off his heel.His sixth goal was another penalty against Colombia.
But against Sweden and Croatia, when it really mattered, Kane didn’t get himself on the scoresheet.And in the defeat to Croatia, Kane was anonymous.Well, there was one moment in the first-half when he in the thick of the action.In the 30th-minute, he had the perfect chance to double England’s lead with a one-on-one. It was saved by Danijel Subasic before Kane hit the post from point-blank range with the rebound.The assistant referee soon flagged Kane offside but replays showed the goal would have stood.
It left England fans scratching their heads wondering what had happened to Kane.
NEVILLE CLAIMS KANE WAS INJURED
Well, ITV pundit Gary Neville thinks he knows.
After the match, he insisted that he would be ‘amazed’ if Kane wasn’t carrying an injury from the Colombia match.
“On Harry Kane, I’d be amazed if we didn’t learn in the next few days he’s been carrying an injury since the Colombia game,” Neville said on ITV. “I’d be amazed.
“He was carrying something in the last 45 minutes against Colombia, he wasn’t even moving around.
“Against Sweden he was static. It’s not an excuse.
“I’d be amazed if he doesn’t come out in the next few days or week and something emerges about his fitness.
”He’s just not looked right, to be fair.”
While Southgate later denied that Kane was struggling with an injury, England fans generally agreed with Neville, believing that the striker wasn't fully fit.