04/06/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 4, 2026

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Kane’s lofty ambition England skipper says World Cup triumph could make him favourite for Ballon d’Or

Ű BY JIM VAN WIJK

H ARRY KANE has set his sights on not only leading England to World Cup glory but also positioning himself as a leading con tender for the prestigious Ballon d’Or . The England captain believes that lifting the cov eted trophy with his national side would signifi cantly bolster his claim for football’s top individual honour. Kane arrives at the pre-tournament warm-up camp in Florida following an extraordinary season with Bayern Munich. He netted an astonishing 61 goals across all competitions, a tally that included a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal final, as Vincent Kompany’s side secured a domestic double. This prolific form will

night, Kane shared photos on X with the caption, “Touchdown in Florida. Let’s go!” alongside an image of the team. The Three Lions, who have won the World Cup once, will compete in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. Their campaign will begin against Croatia in Arlington, Texas, on June 18. The 26-member English squad is training in Florida to acclimatise to the region’s hot weather ahead of the tournament. The squad was announced last month, with notable omissions including Cole Palmer, Harry Maguire and Phil Foden, while Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins secured their places in the team. – The Independent/Agencies

He reflected on England’s recent tourna ment history: “We know it will be difficult, but we have been close in recent years to winning a major tournament – we reached two Euro finals (in 2021 and 2024), a semi final (in 2018) and a quarterfinal (in 2022) of the World Cup.” Despite the pressure, Kane concluded with a sense of anticipation: “This year, we will have a new coach, new players. It is exciting – even if this kind of competition gener ates a lot of pres sure.” On Tuesday

be crucial to England’s aspirations for World Cup success. Speaking to L’Equipe before joining the England squad, Kane openly discussed his Ballon d’Or prospects. “The Ballon d’Or if we win the World Cup? I would certainly be among the favour ites,” he stated. “Considering the trophies I’ve won this season and the number of goals I’ve scored,

I would be in the running. Especially since, if England win the World Cup, we could imagine the trophy going to an English player.” He acknowledged

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other strong candi dates, adding: “When you look at who the current favourites are to win the Ballon d’Or , there is (Bayern Munich’s) Michael (Olise), players who were Champions League finalists and me. “But at the same

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time, I’m not the kind of person who claims to deserve a Ballon d’Or . I try to let my perform ances on the pitch speak for themselves.” England’s campaign will

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HEAD COACH Marco Silva will leave Fulham in the close season after guiding the club back to the Premier League and establishing them as a stable top-flight side over his five years in charge. “Fulham and Marco were an excellent fit for five seasons, but change is inevitable in this game, and we’ve accordingly prepared for this moment,” club owner Shahid Khan said in a statement. The Portuguese coach has been heavily linked with a move to Benfica, where he is viewed as a leading candidate to succeed Jose Mourinho, when he makes his expected return to Real Madrid. Silva arrived in west London in 2021 and made an immediate impact, guiding Fulham to the Championship title in his first season, their first league title in 21 years. He then stabilised the club in the Premier League, overseeing finishes of 10th, 13th, 11th and 11th in his four seasons in England’s top flight. The 48-year-old Silva thanked the fans for their backing. “I asked you, from day one, to always be be overseen by new coach Thomas Tuchel, who aims to guide the team beyond their recent near-misses and deliver a first major tournament success since 1966. Kane, having experienced Tuchel’s leadership during their time together at Bayern, expressed strong confidence in the German’s approach. “At Bayern, I loved his personality, his ideas for the team, and the way he got me playing. In a way, he brought those methods to the national team,” Kane remarked. With the majority of the 26-man squad now assembled, the weight of expectation is palpable. “The ambition is to win it (the World Cup), obviously, that has to be our goal,” Kane affirmed.

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England captain Harry Kane takes part in a training session ahead of the World Cup at The Gardens North County District Park in Florida yesterday. – REUTERSPIC

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Silva to leave Fulham amid Benfica links

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with us,” Silva said. “And that’s what you did these past five years. We achieved a lot together. “My staff and I always felt your support. It will never be forgotten. Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage.” Shahid said the club would move quickly to appoint a successor. “The talent in our squad, our historic home ground of Craven Cottage, our faithful supporters, and my commitment to backing the club, all make Fulham an extraordinarily attractive destination for an incoming head coach,” Khan said. “We will soon appoint a new leader in a timely but deliberate manner, who will meet the standards of our club and expecta tions of our fans throughout the world.” Silva guided the club to their highest Premier League points tally – 54 – in 2024 25. The club had appeared poised to chal lenge for a place in Europe this season but they dropped down the table over the cam paign’s final weeks to finish 11th. – Reuters

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