• Harry Kane is adamant about beating England’s goal-scoring record.
• Tottenham striker Kane is tied with Wayne Rooney for 53 goals for his country.
• England has a poor record against the best teams in the world.

Manager Gareth Southgate says that Harry Kane is ready to beat the all-time England goal scoring record in their first Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy.

After missing a penalty in England’s World Cup quarterfinal loss to France, Tottenham striker Kane is tied with Wayne Rooney for 53 goals for his country.

However, prior to Thursday’s Group C matchup in Naples, Southgate claims to have forgotten about his disappointment.

Southgate told reporters, “We’ve seen with his performances and goalscoring with his club he’s put it behind him,”

“I know he’s going to have added motivation tomorrow night to come back and show everybody what he’s about in an England shirt. For us that’s a good position.”

England has a poor record against the best teams in the world, and on Thursday, they will face the team that took away their victory at Euro 2020 at Wembley and sent them to the second division of the Nations League.

Southgate added, “We’ve been involved in some of the biggest matches in world football, they know the level that’s required, they know they have the ability to compete at that level,”

“Whatever we’ve done in the past is irrelevant tomorrow night, because we have to start again and have the humility to work hard to qualify again, and it’s a great fixture for us to get that underway.”

“Italy didn’t qualify for the World Cup but they still have some outstanding players and they will be highly motivated as well.”

Declan Rice, a West Ham midfielder, stated that England’s narrow loss to France in Qatar has not discouraged them from pursuing the major tournament success they have lacked for nearly six decades.

Rice said, “I think if we look at ourselves after that France game, we took a lot of positivity from the game even though we lost,”

“I think as a group of players there was a real belief in the room that we can compete with the best but it’s down to us now to go that one step ahead — beat a top nation, and win a trophy.”

“That’s all that’s on our mind, starting tomorrow night, trying to beat Italy and starting our campaign off well.”

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