‘Celebrate as the sun rises’ – Harry Kane wants England fans to enjoy the World Cup
Harry Kane hopes England fans will go home partying all night after watching a game that will fuel the Three Lions’ World Cup campaign.
Thomas Tuchel’s men face their biggest test of the tournament against Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning for UK fans.
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Tuchel himself has already asked parents to write school excuses for children to watch the clash.
Now Kane hopes older fans will be partying until the sun comes up after England’s win, with pubs across the country allowed to stay open.
“Obviously the good news is that the pubs are staying open for fans,” Kane said. “We know how important the World Cup is to everyone and to all the fans at home.
“So I hope that there will be a few players who will tell the truth, carry on, and celebrate until the next day and get some sleep afterwards.
“It’s been a while, and we all appreciate the support. That’s sometimes what makes the World Cup so different, these different moments and the different memories you create.
“There is nothing that everyone likes more than celebrating the sunrise at 5 or 6 in the morning.”
England flew to Mexico City on Friday evening, amid reports that the game could be brought forward by six hours.
talkSPORT understands that FIFA should have announced the schedule change before the English and Mexican FAs withdrew.
England coach Thuchel it was thought that rage about disruption, and the path of work ahead is already treacherous enough.
The Three Lions will be playing at a height without familiarity, and Mexico’s record at Azteca is also appalling.
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‘Find a different way to win’
“All these little details will make it more difficult, but it’s another opportunity to build momentum,” added Kane.
“We’re at that stage of the competition where when the ball is rolling and things are going as well as we know we can, it’s a great time to do that.
“So there are no excuses in a game like this. We know it’s going to be tough. We know we might have to cut it right. We might have to find a different way to win. But that’s what the World Cup is all about. That’s why you play football, to have these epic games.
“Especially sometimes when you are away from home when the atmosphere makes you very hungry to prove yourself. That’s what you see in Sunday’s game and if we pass it will give us the momentum to advance to the quarter-finals.
“It’s not often that you see a team come out of the gates hot and keep going until the end. It happens but it’s rare.”
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Kane on Maradona
England also have a history they don’t want at the Azteca, where Diego Maradona scored his famous ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986.
Kane met the late Argentinian icon nearly a decade ago when he was at Tottenham, where Maradona gave him tips on tricking goalkeepers by giving them the eyes.
“We didn’t talk about that game [in 1986],” said Kane.” “It’s not a sport that many English people want to talk about, to be honest.
“He was nice when I met him, we talked briefly, there was a clip of him talking about me when I finished and giving the goalkeeper the eyes. This is a really good clip.
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“It is a historic site for many different reasons.
“What is difficult to take as an Englishman after that game in particular, but it was a long time ago, forty years ago.
“It’s about writing our own history, we know we have the opportunity to do something special in a special stadium away from home.
“There’s nothing better than that feeling of winning a tough away game. It’s not about the past, it’s about what we can do in the future. We have a great opportunity to have a special night.”
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