Several Bayern stars have already made a very good impression at the 2026 World Cup. On the first matchday, that was also true of Harry Kane. But the second game was rather disappointing. To make matters worse, the Bayern star also missed a shot.
And it was one that isn’t usually part of his repertoire. After a header by Nico O’Reilly hit the crossbar, the Bayern striker got a follow-up shot in the penalty area but sent it well over the goal. Combined with the play right before it, that was clearly England’s best chance of the match.
As a result, England ultimately had to settle for a 0–0 draw. It’s a result that didn’t exactly spark much euphoria. Following the 4–2 win over Croatia—in which Kane scored twice—this was a setback.
Experts surprised by Kane’s missed shot
The Bayern striker’s play also surprised the experts. “He usually makes that one. I don’t know what he was thinking. He wanted to strike the ball cleanly with the instep, but he didn’t make 100-percent contact; he was leaning back a bit, and then it just went over,” explained Bastian Schweinsteiger, an ARD analyst, after the game.
Actually, after a brilliant season with Bayern Munich, Kane has been performing at the highest level for the English national team as well. The missed shot—and a game that was otherwise rather unremarkable—are a bit surprising.
That’s why Mats Hummels, serving as an analyst for Magenta TV, was also taken aback: “Kane’s shot—we all expected him to nail it. Very unusual for him.”
And Kane himself? He’s taking the missed opportunity in stride. “It was exactly the kind of game where, as a striker, you’re just waiting for the ball to fall the right way—and it did. I just couldn’t quite get over the ball, but I’d bet on myself to score that one in most cases. It is what it is. I’ve been a striker long enough to know they don’t always go in, so I have to accept it,” he explained.
