Harry Kane is hoping to make history in more ways that one when he captains Euro 2024 favourites England at this summer's tournament in Germany.
The 30-year-old entered the 17th edition of the European Championship following an exceptional debut campaign in front of goal for Bayern Munich, scoring 44 goals in 45 games across all competitions.
Kane, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in world football, has also been prolific for England and is the nation's all-time leading scorer with 61 goals in 91 appearances over a nine-year period.
The striker scored eight times in Euro 2024 qualifying, which was only bettered by three players, and he is one of the favourites to claim the Golden Boot, six years on from receiving the same prize at the 2018 World Cup.
Kane is one of the standout names selected in Gareth Southgate's 26-man England squad and he is set to become the first ever player to captain the Three Lions at four major tournaments when he leads his side out at Euro 2024.
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Kane wants to "make history" with England
Kane, who is yet to win a trophy in his club or international career, has come up short on a few occasions in recent major tournaments, with England losing in the final of Euro 2020 before being knocked out at the semi-final stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Nevertheless, Kane is keen to "make history" and lead England to their first ever European Championship title, as well as end almost 60 years of hurt suffered by the Three Lions since they triumphed at the 1966 World Cup.
"I'm excited. There's always excitement, especially when you get out to the host nation, settle into the hotel and see where everything is," Kane told UEFA.com. "Hopefully it's going to be our camp for a good four or five weeks.
"As the days go on you start to get a bit of nerves, the preparation starts, and you watch the first game, Germany versus Scotland, and that's when it really kicks in. But at the moment, everyone's pretty calm and excited.
Kane added: "I think this (England) squad is one of the best, if not the best, we've had, going on form and the domestic seasons a lot of us have had.
"We have incredible young talent coming through who are fearless and just want to get on the ball and play. I hope that the guys can lean on me and ask me questions, and if I can help them get through anything, then great. But we have such a good togetherness, we're always talking or having dinner together and there's always conversations being had, so that helps us."
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Kane 'honoured' to captain England at Euro 2024
Asked about breaking England's major tournament captaincy record, Kane said: "Being England captain and leading the boys out is probably the highest privilege I can have as a player, and I'll never take that for granted. That feeling is truly one of a kind.
"It's an honour to do it for a fourth time. We've had a semi-final, a final and a quarter-final, so I'm hoping we go to the very end and go on and win.
"We've had some really good moments, and I've personally had some really good moments, but ultimately we're here to win a Euros, and that's hopefully what we can do."
Kane is expected to start in England's opening Group C fixture against Serbia at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, before the Three Lions face Denmark and Slovenia in their final two group-stage matches.
Oliver Thomas
Germany
Switzerland
Hungary
Scotland
Spain
Italy
Croatia
Albania
England
Denmark
Slovenia
Serbia
Austria
France
Netherlands
Poland
Romania
Belgium
Slovakia
Ukraine
Portugal
Turkey
Georgia
Czech Republic
