At times it seems like you have to choose. Either Kane is England’s talisman and we’re doomed because he can’t get into the game at the Euros. Or Sterling has completed the transformation from scapegoat to saviour and is stealing Kane’s thunder.
But what if it wasn’t a binary choice? What if England simply possessed two of the best attacking players in Europe? And were utilising them to (quietly) build a successful campaign?
The perception is that when Kane found his glut of goals at the World Cup it was at the expense of Sterling. Most of those came from set plays, crosses and penalties. None were assisted by Sterling.
Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane are building a partnership that is pushing England onwards
Kane bagged two goals as the Three Lions stormed into the semi-finals by beating Ukraine
And yet a careful examination of those games revealed Sterling to be England’s most creative attacking player, constantly creating danger with those jinxing runs he does past defenders.
It never really came together in Russia. But, playing in an unfamiliar role, Sterling was a vital component to that team.
Come these Euros, and a more familiar 4-3-3, Sterling has been alive with attacking intent. The last two years have seen an international goalscoring drought end with those 15 goals in 21 games.
Three have come in this tournament. Sterling is not only the best English player for breaking past defenders and creating chaos. He was turning into the best finisher while Kane survived on minimal touches, hoping and waiting for something to come his way.
Kane opened the scoring early on, assisted by a masterful ball into the box from Sterling
Sterling was dangerous all night and has been undoubtedly England's best player this summer
And yet, that Sterling goal against Germany featured a delightful contribution from Kane. As Sterling drives through German lines, it was Kane who cushioned the ball and played it on to Jack Grealish, rather than give it back to Sterling, who was running into German players and would have lost it.
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