According to The Athletic's report, Kane will participate in the 2028 European Championship because whether in the short, medium, or long term, there is no one in the England squad who can replace him.

The report states, another day, another superstar bids farewell to the World Cup stage. Mohamed Salah exited in stunned silence. Cristiano Ronaldo left with a string of memories recalling past glories from a decade ago. Haaland departed with a bright smile, calling it the best experience of his life. Mbappé, after delivering a coherent speech, apologized despite his words being laced with profanity.

It was all the familiar English script. This week, in the winding underground passages of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, England captain Kane found himself. The world-class striker attempted to compose his words; what he needed at this moment was polite restraint, not an emotional outburst, as he reviewed yet another deeply painful defeat – once again so close, yet ultimately unfulfilled.

This marks England's fifth consecutive major tournament reaching the deep stages of the knockout rounds: World Cup semifinals in 2018, penalty shootout heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final, World Cup quarterfinals in 2022, and defeat in the Euro 2024 final. This particular blow was especially bitter – a World Cup semifinal loss to Argentina, where the team had held a 1-0 lead only to lose it in the dying moments.

Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Jarrod Bowen, Noni Madueke, Gordon... Squad iteration and renewal were expected, but the sharp decline in form of some players at club level has left successive England managers helpless, and Kane has suffered as a result.

Gordon started this World Cup slowly but finished strong, delivering many impressive performances, but England's attacking approach was too one-dimensional for most of the time. In the second half against Croatia, the first half against Mexico, and Gordon's goal against Argentina, the team produced sharp and incisive counter-attacks; but for most periods, unless Kane or Bellingham provided a moment of brilliance, fans had no hope of England scoring.

This is the root of Kane's frustration. During his time at Bayern Munich, he had strong support from players like Michael Olise, Luis Díaz, and Jamal Musiala. Head coach Vincent Kompany's tactical goal was to completely dominate opponents in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League. Yet, wearing an England shirt, every tough match outside of World Cup qualifiers felt like an uphill battle.

But Kane has never given up fighting for England, and he reiterated this original intention after the match. When asked if this World Cup, with his 33rd birthday just weeks away, would be his last, Kane replied, "It's too early to talk about that. The England team is my glory and my love, the most cherished endeavor of my life, more than anything else."

He added, "A four-year cycle is too long, and I'll be 33 this summer. But look at Leo (Lionel Messi) on the other side; he is still at the pinnacle of football. I never want to set limits for my career; for the future, I'll take it one step at a time."

No England fan would want Kane to retire from the national team. After a major tournament exit, people instinctively hope for a generational change, but Kane just had a near-peak season in his career at Bayern Munich, and just days ago, there were widespread rumors that he might win this year's Ballon d'Or. Whether in the short, medium, or long term, England cannot find a perfect successor as an orthodox center-forward.

However, Kane is right; the next World Cup in 2030 seems a long way off, and he might not get another chance to realize his dream. He can look to Messi: the Argentine star only achieved his World Cup dream at 35, and now at 39, he has led his team to another final, but Messi himself is an exception who breaks all footballing norms. Kane will continue to persevere and score goals, with his sights set on Euro 2028. But ultimately, he and England need to break the curse of "no major tournament trophy."

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