Harry Kane’s brace helped England beat Croatia 4-2 in Dallas, but ex-Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann says the “jury’s out” on whether the Bayern Munich captain can truly step up in the biggest knockout matches. Kane levelled Gary Lineker’s World Cup record wi
Harry Kane did exactly what England’s strikers are supposed to do on a World Cup night in Dallas: he scored early, he scored again, and he carried the weight of a captain’s job with ruthless efficiency.
On Wednesday, the Three Lions beat Croatia 4-2 after Kane struck twice before half-time. His first came from the penalty spot, retaken after encroachment saw the referee order a repeat. Croatia’s response followed quickly: after Kane’s opener. Martin Baturina equalised with a strike from distance before Petar Musa levelled again on the brink of half-time with a side-footed volley. Then, with the game swinging, Kane restored England’s lead with a bullet header into the bottom corner.
In the second 45. Thomas Tuchel’s team did what it promised in the build-up and pulled clear: goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed all three points. Kane’s brace brought his World Cup tally to nine and ten. levelling the record previously set by ex-Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur striker Gary Lineker.
But even with the numbers stacked up, Didi Hamann insists the biggest question around Kane is still unanswered.
Speaking on Irish television channel RTE Sport. the former Germany midfielder said he believes “the jury’s out”. adding that England’s captain is expected to deliver in knockout football when margins tighten. Hamann pointed to Kane’s tournament scoring record so far. saying: “I think he’s scored eight goals in the group stages – two against Tunisia. three against Panama and a penalty against Colombia.” He then stressed what he wants to see next. and against whom: “He’s the captain and he’s there to score goals in the knockout games. The jury’s out. I want to see him do it against France and Brazil. Whether he’s capable of doing it, we don’t know yet.”.
Hamann also made an argument about the style of match-ups at the top level. He said: “He scores an awful lot of goals but in Munich every centre forward scores goals. It doesn’t matter if he scores 25 or 35. they’re going to win the league.” He went further on how the forward fits into tournament dynamics. suggesting that counter-attacking goals are easier to produce than the type required against elite opponents. “I think there’s a few centre forwards in the tournament I’d rather have than him. In tournament football you can score on the counter attack, but he’s not going to do that.”.
The criticism sharpened around pace and positional demands. Hamann said at some stage in a tournament “you need pace” and added: “he simply hasn’t got it.” He also challenged whether Kane gets into the right situations against the teams Hamann singled out as the tournament’s hardest tests: “His finishing is probably the best in the world. but does he get in these positions against Germany. Brazil and France?. I’m not too sure.”.
Those doubts are set against Kane’s track record in major tournament knockout rounds. During England’s run to the final of the European Championships in 2024. Kane netted against both Slovakia in the round of 16 and the Netherlands in the semi-final. At the last World Cup in Qatar. the ex-Spurs star scored against Senegal in the round of 16 and France in the quarter-final.
Even so, Hamann’s central point stayed the same: group-stage production does not automatically translate into the decisive moments that come later.
That is precisely where Kane tried to steer the conversation after the Croatia match. Speaking to reporters post-match in Dallas. the striker said it was crucial he found the scoresheet as early as possible in the tournament. “I’d been waiting long enough to just play the game. We’ve had to wait six days so I think everyone was just itching to get out there.” He added: “As a striker. I just wanted to get myself on the scoresheet as early as possible. I think that competition helps me to push my levels. That’s what the World Cup’s for – for the best players to play at the highest level.”.
Kane also described what Tuchel did at half-time after England let their lead slip twice before the interval. After his opener, Baturina’s equaliser and Musa’s volley meant the game swung again before the break. Kane said Tuchel’s message helped settle the players: “He just told us to let the shackles off. To calm down. Kind of, what are we scared of?. Let’s just go. The way we conceded that second goal is not the team we want to be.”.
He continued with the emotion of the moment, saying Tuchel asked them to confront pressure rather than hide from it: “He just kind of said what’s the worst can happen? Let’s just show the world who we can be.”
The result sends England to the top of Group L ahead of Ghana. Ghana earned three points from Panama thanks to a last-minute winner from Caleb Yirenkyi. England now turn their attention quickly to the next test: the Three Lions face Ghana on Tuesday at the Gillette Stadium in Boston.
And as Kane takes those next steps with his World Cup record now levelled. the spotlight won’t just be on the goals. Hamann’s verdict has already set the tone for what comes next—whether the Bayern Munich captain can turn match-winning finishing into knockout dominance against the teams that refuse to give strikers time to breathe.
Harry Kane England vs Croatia Didi Hamann World Cup goals Gary Lineker record Tuchel Jude Bellingham Marcus Rashford Group L Ghana vs Panama Caleb Yirenkyi