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Harry Kane will captain England at this summer’s World Cup.<\/p>\nHarry Kane will captain England at this summer’s World Cup.<\/p>\n
Gareth Southgate has shared the leadership role around since taking over as manager in 2016 but has now appointed the Tottenham striker for the tournament in Russia.<\/p>\n
The 24-year-old was first given the armband for the qualifier against Scotland last June and has skippered the side on three further occasions.<\/p>\n
Southgate, announced his decision during a team meeting at St George’s Park on Monday, said: “Harry has some outstanding personal qualities. He is a meticulous professional and one of the most important things for a captain is that they set the standard every day.<\/p>\n
He has belief and high standards and it is a great message for the team to have a captain who has shown that it is possible to be one of the best in the world over a consistent period of time and that has been his drive.<\/p>\n
“My feeling is that over the last 18 months in the camps that he’s been with us he has shown that he has got the desire to take that into a team environment and he recognizes the importance of bringing others with him.”<\/p>\n
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson – currently preparing for the Champions League final with the Reds – and Kane’s club mate Eric Dier were seen as the other likeliest contenders.<\/p>\n
The retired Wayne Rooney, the dropped Joe Hart and Gary Cahill – who is heading to Russia after a last-minute reprieve – have also captained the Three Lions under Southgate.<\/p>\n
And just because Kane has been installed as the figurehead, the notion of collective responsibility will not abandoned any time soon.<\/p>\n
“Harry will need the support of the other good leaders that we have got around him,” said the manager.<\/p>\n
“You don’t become a top team by just having a good captain with good values because that has got to spread right throughout the group but I think he is the one who is ready to take that challenge on.”<\/p>\n