The last in our ‘recent nostalgia’ series, going behind the scenes of the World Cup 2022 from our journalists covering the tournament
With the countdown on to this summer’s World Cup, we’ve launched a new series going behind the scenes of some of the big moments and untold stories of recent tournaments, from 2002 to 2022.
‘Haunted’ Harry Kane fronted up to lowest moment
John Cross: It was just over two weeks until Christmas, and while it was freezing cold at home in England, the heat was turned up on the national team in Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup was the first-ever winter edition of the competition, and while the location choice laid out by FIFA was mired in controversy, there was a sense that the Three Lions could do something special on the pitch as they had four years prior in Russia, and two years before in the Euros.
Comfortable group stage wins over Iran and Wales, either side of a bore draw with the United States, set England up well for the rest of the tournament under the leadership of head coach Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane.
A triumph against Senegal in the round of 16 teed up a titanic clash against world champions France.
While England had competed well, an Aurelien Tchouameni goal in the 17th minute set Les Bleus on their way. Captain Kane came to the rescue once from the penalty spot after half-time, before Olivier Giroud struck in the 78th minute.
England were handed a reprieve when the referee pointed to the spot once more, but there was to be no repeats of their number nine’s earlier heroics. Instead, in the heat of the moment, Kane blasted his penalty over the bar.
England went on to lose 2-1.
The former Tottenham Hotspur frontman had been so reliable up to that point, but I noticed just how long he seemed to dwell over the spot kick from the press box, disrupting his usual routine that had been so consistent otherwise.
It was a haunting moment. You could see that he was absolutely desolate. And I’ve no doubt about it. I think if you ask Harry Kane, what’s the biggest, hardest moment in your career, he will always say that.
But what came after was a real sign of the true Harry Kane.
After the game, the media descends to the mixed zone to speak to players as they make their way out of the stadium. The England captain didn’t have to come and speak to us there, but he did so, wanting to clear the air on the penalty and the tournament exit.
He knew he’d be on every front and back page of the newspapers in the morning. He knew he’d be the face of England’s early exit and eventual failure in the tournament. But he fronted that up anyway.
You could see he’d been crying at some point between the miss and coming to speak with us, as he stood there with tear-stained cheeks.
But nonetheless, he made himself vulnerable, opening up about how guilty he felt for that specific moment where everything seemingly fell apart.
You could hear the emotion in his voice, just how much this truly meant to him at that time.
He took time to not only reflect on his key moment, but called for Southgate to stay as manager, while also outlining his praise for the England fans. That moment made it clear why he is the national team captain, not only for his quality on the pitch but the person he is away from it.
After speaking with us, he went up in my estimation. What an absolute ambassador, gentleman, England great.
Was Southgate right to continue?
John Cross: Gareth Southgate was phenomenal for England and what he’s done for the nation is undervalued, underestimated, and deserves more respect, I think, on every level.
He’s transformed England from being a laughing stock, toxic one at that, into being genuine contenders and basically have a proper structure, a really good team and everything is set up. But, I equally felt as if Qatar was the end of the road.
I was thinking he would go at the time, even though deep down I hoped that he’d stay. It was a whirlwind five days until that decision was announced.
In retrospect, there were a few signs he’d maybe been convinced of staying, but he also knew he was so close to getting it right and couldn’t resist one more go.
Personally, I think he looked exhausted and done by the time Euro 2024 rolled around, yet England still got to that tournament’s final. It was an amazing achievement by hook or by crook, and it almost came to something great.
Gareth Southgate for me, the best thing that’s happened to England in my lifetime.
Andy Dunn: At the end of that tournament, Southgate was clearly drained, brought on by everything that he took on. One, the things you have to deal with as England manager, but also two, what he took it upon himself to deal with. He saw it as a duty to get involved in stuff off the field, stuff that maybe was with a broader remit than just the football.
There’s got to come a time when you think, ‘well, actually, you know, I’m trying to get a football team out here to, you know, to win a football match’.
I do think from his point of view, it is almost as if he was born to be in an FA blazer, he was born to be an England coach. He is quintessentially an FA man, a St. George’s Park man.
I’m not casting aspersions, but some England managers probably wouldn’t buy into the St. George’s Park idea of being based there. I mean, Gareth, that was his manner. He was a natural born FA England manager, which is why I wasn’t surprised when he carried on after Qatar.
Should he have quit? I wouldn’t say so.
In retrospect, I’m glad he didn’t and I certainly don’t think the performance there overall – even though they were beaten by France in that quarter-final – demanded that he should quit.
He may have looked a bit strained from eight years of service, and that strain may have looked like it was getting to him at Euro 2024, but I still think he was the best manager out there to do the job. He proved that by taking us to the final.
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