​Harry Kane believes England still have more to offer at the World Cup even after sealing a place in the semi-finals. The captain spoke candidly following a grueling 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in Miami, a match defined by a Jude Bellingham brace that propelled England forward. He did not shy away from acknowledging the performance, admitting that the display left room for improvement.
The conditions turned the evening into a punishing test. Kane described it as a tough game, noting the heat and humidity as almost as punishing as those faced in a match against Mexico, yet the team managed to find a way to win. He was clear that the performance was not England at their best. “It wasn’t our prettiest performance, we know that,” he said. “I said before in the press conference that there’s another level we can reach. I still feel like we didn’t reach it as a team.”
The visitors had to come from behind after Norway struck first through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute, his shot hitting the post and finding the net off the rebound in a moment of fortune. Bellingham equalised in first-half stoppage time, and then struck again in the 93rd minute, pouncing on a rebound to secure victory for the Real Madrid midfielder’s side.
Kane praised Bellingham for delivering once again when it mattered most and also highlighted the collective effort that secured the win. “Jude was the game-changer again today, but the boys at the back, Pickers, everyone put in an amazing shift,” Kane said. “The most important element of this team is togetherness and we showed that again today.”
Even in victory, Thomas Tuchel’s demands were evident. Kane revealed that the manager’s message in the changing room before celebrations was to enjoy the achievement but to remember that there is more to come: “He just said there in the changing room, massive congratulations, we should enjoy it and celebrate, but he knows we can do better. If we are in the semi-finals of a World Cup and knowing we can still improve, we have to take that as a positive.”
Kane’s performance marked his 120th cap for England, equalling Wayne Rooney’s national record, and he underscored the importance of the squad’s depth for the run in the tournament. He specifically praised Djed Spence, whose energy from the bench helped to alter the game’s dynamics. Bellingham’s braces also marked a historic achievement, making him the first player since Diego Maradona in 1986 to score braces in consecutive World Cup knockout matches.
England now head to Atlanta to face Argentina on Wednesday at 20:00 BST. The team will be looking to build on this performance and push further toward lifting the trophy, with Kane insisting that the side still has more to give and that the potential to reach new heights remains within reach.