H
arry Kane says he feels like a “proud older brother” to England’s “fearless” young players and believes the squad has the right blend of youth and experience to win the World Cup.
Jude Bellingham, 19, Phil Foden, 22, and Bukayo Saka, 21, are all expected to keep their places in the side for Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against France after starring in the 3-0 win over Senegal.
Gareth Southgate picked Foden and Saka to play alongside captain Kane ahead of more experienced options like Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, and the pair fully justified the manager’s faith in the last-16 tie.
Bellingham and Foden played a key role in the first two goals, finished by Jordan Henderson and Kane, while the Manchester City winger crossed for Saka to bag the third in the second half.
“It’s great to see, there’s no bigger stage to go and do it,” said Kane, 29.
“These guys are fearless, they want to just play football and express themselves. I feel like we’ve got a great mix of experience and youth and when you look at the teams who have won big tournaments that’s what they’ve had.
“To see the boys play how they’re playing I’m almost like a proud older brother. It’s great to see and that’s what we need: to go into games with the mentality of ‘we’re going to give it everything we’ve got’.”
Kane also pointed to the leadership of Henderson, the second oldest member of Southgate’s squad, who is noticeably vocal on the pitch.
“Hendo is one of the best leaders I’ve played with,” Kane said. “He’s really vocal, he pushing players to the absolute max. That’s why he’s been great. In the games he’s played he’s been outstanding with the ball, outstanding without the ball and pushing everyone.
“The way we’ve been pressing, it’s good to hear him behind me, pushing. That’s what you need, you need different types of leaders amongst the team.
Brazil players make tribute to Pele after reports of his ill health
AFP via Getty Images
Croatia defeat Japan in the first penalty shootout of the 2022 World Cup
Getty Images
Jude Bellingham relaxes after his star dislay against Senegal
The FA via Getty Images
Aziz Behich comes within inches of completing an unlikely Australia comeback against Argentina in the last-16
Getty Images
Vincent Aboubakar celebrates a famous winner for Cameroon against Brazil
AFP via Getty Images
Luis Suarez stunned as his last World Cup ends in an early exit
Getty Images
South Korea celebrate knocking out Uruguay with a last-minuter winner in the group stage
Getty Images
Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma appears to have the ball over the line before crossing it for a goal during the World Cup group E soccer match between Japan and Spain, at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar
AP
Germany players stand dejected at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E campaign and match v Costa Rica
AFP via Getty Images
England’s Marcus Rashford scores their first goal from a free kick past Wales’ Danny
REUTERS
A pitch invader runs across the field with a rainbow flag during the World Cup group H match between Portugal and Uruguay, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail
AP
Ismaila Sarr of Senegal celebrates after their sides victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group A match between Ecuador and Senegal at Khalifa International Stadium
Getty Images
USA’s forward #10 Christian Pulisic scores his team’s first goal past Iran’s goalkeeper #01 Alireza Beiranvand during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match between Iran and USA at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha
AFP via Getty Images
Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar, left, scores the second goal past Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic during the World Cup group G soccer match between Cameroon and Serbia, at the Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar
AP
Brazil’s midfielder #05 Casemiro celebrates with teammates after he scored his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G match v Switzerland at Stadium 974 in Doha
AFP via Getty Images
England’s Harry Kane reacts after missing a chance to score v USA
REUTERS
France’s Kylian Mbappe scores their second goal v Denmark
REUTERS
Fans from Japan wait for the start of the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar,
AP
Uruguay’s forward #21 Edinson Cavani (bottom) eyes the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group H match between Portugal and Uruguay at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doh
AFP via Getty Images
A Ghana staff member takes selfie with despondent Heung-min Son after victory over South Korea
BBC
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi collides with Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during theIR FIFA World Cup Group B match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan
PA
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal v Mexico
REUTERS
Spain’s Alvaro Morata in action with Germany’s Nico Schlotterbeck
REUTERS
Belgium’s goalkeeper #01 Thibaut Courtois (R) conceides a goal shot by Morocco’s midfielder #11 Abdelhamid Sabiri (unseen) during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F football match between Belgium and Morocco at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha
AFP via Getty Images
Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol hangs off the crossbar
REUTERS
Costa Rica’s Keysher Fuller celebrates scoring their first goal with Yeltsin Tejeda and teammates v Japan
REUTERS
Germany players pose with their hands covering their mouths as they line up for the team photos prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group B football match v Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha
Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
Costa Rica’s Jewison Bennette is tackled by Spain’s Rodri oduring the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match at Al Thumama Stadium
Clive Mason/Getty Images
Neymar of Brazil cuts between Andrija Zivkovic (l) and Sasa Lukic (r) of Serbia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group G match between Brazil and Serbia at Lusail Stadium
Getty Images
South Korea’s Son Heung-min in action
REUTERS
England’s Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling throw a rubber toy during a training session at Al Wakrah Stadium
The FA via Getty Images
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring their first goal with a banner of Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the background
REUTERS
England’s Bukayo Saka in action with Iran’s Ali Karimi and Milad Mohammadi
REUTERS
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari scores their second goal past Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez
Hannah McKay/Reuters
Wales’ Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their equaliser v USA
REUTERS
A Cameroon fan waits for the start of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group G l match v Switzerland
AFP via Getty Images
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari celebrates scoring their second goal v Argentina
REUTERS
Argentina Lionel Messi shows dejection during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match v Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium
Getty Images
England’s Jack Grealish celebrates for Finlay Fisher after scoring their team’s sixth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match v Iran at Khalifa International Stadium
The FA via Getty Images
Alex Scott wears the One Love armband
BBC
Japan leave their dressing room spotless after their opening World Cup group match v Germany
.
A Japanese fan clears rubbish from the stands
Getty Images
Germany ‘s Manuel Neuer competes for a header with Japaan’s Maya Yoshida during their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match at Khalifa International Stadium
Getty Images
Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais hits Saudi Arabia’s defender Yasser Al-Shahrani in the head during their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C match v Argentina at the Lusail Stadium
AFP via Getty Images
Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais hits Saudi Arabia’s defender Yasser Al-Shahrani in the head during their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C match v Argentina at the Lusail Stadium
Getty Images
Saudi Arabia fans celebrates after their sides second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match v Argentina at Lusail Stadium
Getty Images
David Beckham in the stands for England v Iran
REUTERS
England’s Declan Rice and Harry Maguire take the knee v Iran
REUTERS
Japan’s Takuma Asano scores is side second goal during the World Cup group E soccer match v Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar
AP
Senegal’s fans wait for the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Senegal and Netherlands at the Al Thumama Stadium
AP
France’s Olivier Giroud shoots at goal v Australia
REUTERS
Poland’s Bartosz Bereszynski and Mexico’s Hirving Lozano battle for the ball during the World Cup group C match at the Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar
AP
France’s Olivier Giroud celebrates with teammates after he scored during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match v Australia at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha
AFP via Getty Images
USA’s Timothy Weah of United States controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match v Wales at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium
Getty Images
Dani Olmo of Spain scores their team’s first goal past Keylor Navas of Costa Rica during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Spain and Costa Rica at Al Thumama Stadium
Getty Images
Alejandro Gomez of Argentina is challenged by Salem Al-Dawsari of Saudi Arabia during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium
Getty Images
Harry Maguire of England is substituted off after an injury during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between England and IR Iran at Khalifa International Stadium
Getty Images
ngland fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon as they watch a live broadcast of England’s opening group-round match versus Iran
Getty Images
Ecuador’s Enner Valencia, right, scores his second goal against Qatar’s goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb during the World Cup, group A soccer match between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Kho
AP
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
REUTERS
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony
AFP via Getty Images
The Qatar 2022 mascot La’eeb performs during the opening ceremony
AFP via Getty Images
Morgan Freeman, at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
AP
View of a giant replica World Cup in Qatar
REUTERS
“That’s what we have. Hendo is someone who, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, he’ll keep pushing you and against Senegal it was an amazing performance by him.”
Meanwhile, Southgate will not put pressure on Raheem Sterling to return to Qatar after he flew home on Saturday following a burglary at his Surrey home.
Sterling missed the last-16 tie but the FA have made it clear that he can take as much time as he needs to be with his family and deal with the police investigation before potentially rejoining the squad.