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In Focus: Kane cruising for Bayern as Euro 2024 approaches
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Adam Drury
LiveScore
Harry Kane is off to a flyer at Bayern Munich
Harry Kane is off to a flyer at Bayern Munich

Harry Kane's Bayern Munich career is going perfectly to plan.

While silverware must follow for Kane's move to be deemed a success, a tally of 14 goals and seven assists in 13 appearances is the kind of start he hoped for.

And after his second Bundesliga hat-trick against Darmstadt on Saturday — including an audacious lob from beyond the halfway line — he became the first player to notch 12 times in his first nine German top-flight games.

Penalty-box poacher

Kane has developed his goalscoring even further in a Bayern shirt by playing as a more traditional centre forward.

Upon signing for the club, the 30-year-old said: "He [manager Thomas Tuchel] went into great detail. 

"Where exactly does he see me and that I should play as a clearer No9 than I often do at Tottenham."

And that desire to stay in the box is borne out in the numbers.

Seven of Kane's nine (77.77%) non-penalty Bundesliga strikes have come from within the width of the six-yard box and less than 12 yards out — one of the exceptions being Saturday's stunner — while that figure was 17 out of 25 (68%) last term.

With Jamal Musiala, Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane in the side, he is routinely being teed up with presentable chances in the box.

Harry Kane is playing as a conventional striker
Harry Kane is playing as a conventional striker

In-Sane

But Kane is still managing to combine his penalty-box exploits with a degree of trademark creativity.

Only Xavi Simons of RB Leipzig has laid on more goals for team-mates so far this season — and the relationship between Sane and Tuchel's No9 has particularly flourished.

The Englishman has set up four of Sane's nine goals in all competitions this season, including an assist within minutes of his full debut against Werder Bremen in August.

Kane has only created 11 opportunities in the Bundesliga but six of them are classed as big chances — a strong ratio that suggests he is going for quality over quantity in Bayern's build-up.

Pat on the back

Kane is not just posting phenomenal numbers but has restored an aura to Bayern that they seemed to lose in the season between Robert Lewandowski's departure and their new man's arrival.

And Tuchel has been keen to point out what the signing of the striker says about the club.

He said: "He [Kane] is more than talented, he is absolutely world-class.

"He has talent, ability, aura, personality, modesty and dedication. 

"We persuaded the captain of England to leave England and I think we can pat ourselves on the back for that."

Thomas Tuchel has hailed Harry Kane's impact at Bayern
Thomas Tuchel has hailed Harry Kane's impact at Bayern

Lions on the prowl

With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Kane is one of a few England players dominating for the best teams in the world.

Jude Bellingham has had a similarly successful impact at Real Madrid, while Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham — the Premier League's top four — are also being inspired by Englishmen.

Kane's form is perhaps most vital of them all as the skipper aims to put right the missed penalty that saw the Three Lions crash out of the Qatar World Cup last year.

And lifting England's first major trophy since 1966 on German soil, having excelled in his first season there, would be perfect symmetry.

Tags

Harry KaneBundesligaBayern MunichEnglandEuropean Championship
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