sport news Inside Harry Kane's German nightmare: He lives in the Beverly Hills of Bavaria ... trends now
August 18, 2023, Harry Kane stepped off the first of two Bayern Munich team buses to arrive at the Weserstadion in Bremen.
Earphones in, game face on, Kane walked into the unknown.
Tottenham was all he’d ever known; 280 goals, 61 assists, 435 appearances. One of their own.
The numbers were staggering. But one particular statistic - and the stigma attached to it - he couldn’t bare.
For Kane, it was - and is - the most crucial number of all. Trophies: zero.
Harry Kane continues to be haunted by a key statistic in his career - trophies: zero
On that balmy summer’s evening in north-west Germany, Kane approached the away dressing room in preparation for his full Bayern debut in the Bundesliga opener against Werder Bremen clutching a silver washbag in his right hand.
Fast forward nine months and the colour of that luxury toiletry case couldn’t be more symbolic.
Kane left England in search of gold. He continues, frustratingly, having to settle for silver or worse.
His £120million move to Bavaria was expected to herald an instant rush of trophies to finally add what was missing from Kane’s goal-laden career.
Because, traditionally, Bayern win. And win big.
Tottenham was all Kane ever knew before his £100m move to Bayern before leaving England in search of gold
But despite Bayern's reputation for winning big, Kane has had to settle for silver or less
So, with that in mind, you’d forgive Kane for trying to recall whether he'd broken a mirror or walked under a ladder.
Second to Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga as Bayern failed to win the domestic title for the first time in 12 years was underwhelming.
Their shock loss to third-tier Saarbrucken in the German Cup was shambolic and meant Bayern ended their domestic season without silverware for the first time since 2012.
And then came Wednesday night; defeat from the clutches of a euphoric win that would have gained them entry into the Champions League final against fellow German side Borussia Dortmund.
All Kane could do was sit and watch from the bench as his team, leading 1-0 heading into the final two minutes of normal time, somehow contrived to throw it all away at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The dejected expression on Kane's face after their defeat to Real Madrid offered a haunting insight into the pain he is enduring
You’d forgive Kane for trying to recall whether he'd broken a mirror or walked under a ladder after a difficult season in Germany
Thomas Tuchel’s decision to substitute Kane during the closing stages of the game has been pilloried, although the German coach insists his hand was forced with his star striker having suffered a back injury.
'I'll tell you what was unexpected, Harry Kane going off the pitch. That's one of the biggest subs I've ever seen in a game of football of that magnitude,’ said former England and Bayern midfielder Owen Hargreaves.
'To take off a guy that's scored 44 goals, who is the most durable player pretty much anywhere and you bring on another striker in [Maxim] Choupo-Moting. Maybe he wanted height for corners, I don't know.
'You cannot take him off. There's five minutes left in the game, there's ten minutes of extra-time, 15 minutes.’
But the ifs, buts and maybes are neither here nor there, certainly for Kane, whose trophyless streak continues.
The dejected expression on his face in the aftermath of Real Madrid’s latest Champions League miracle offered a haunting insight into the pain he is enduring.
Scoring 44 goals in 45 games is extraordinary, but his trophies record continues to hound him
The numbers remain exemplary. Forty-five games, 44 goals, 12 assists. Kane’s personal reputation as Europe’s most complete marksman is snowballing.
But it’s that big, fat zero that continues to hound him. And, until that zero is no more, it’s a suffering that won’t heal.
Of course, the season isn’t over. If Kane is looking for a silver lining following his team’s last-gasp capitulation in Spain’s capital then he may find it in the form of England’s forthcoming tilt at glory.
The fact he won’t be featuring in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1 means he’ll be able to play a full part in the preparations for Euro 2024, a tournament Gareth Southgate’s side head into as favourites.
Those close to Kane explain that is exactly how he’ll approach the next few days.
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