Harry Kane fired by Tom Brady and the ultimate American dream 

Striker will lead England against Croatia Wednesday night at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, seeking to right the wrongs of Qatar 2022

England's Harry Kane at the press conference ahead of their World Cup opener with Croatia at Dallas Stadium, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

There has long been something about the mentality of US sports stars that has appealed to Harry Kane. The England captain sees it as something specific to them: a unique brand of never-say-die spirit. It leans into a broader notion – that anyone can achieve success if they want it badly enough, if they pursue it with all their heart. It is known as the American dream.

Kane was introduced to it all in 2011 at the start of his professional career, when the path was anything but smooth at his boyhood club, Tottenham. He had started to become interested in the NFL and there was something about the New England Patriots quarterback, Tom Brady, that transfixed him.