England will face Spain at Wembley to begin its Nations League campaign. At the pre-match press conference, captain Kane spoke about the Ballon d'Or, contract renewal discussions with Bayern Munich, his reflections on the World Cup semifinal exit, and responded to questions about England's playing style. This article is the first part of the press conference.

Before we talk about this important match, I want to ask you about the Ballon d'Or. Sorry to get straight to the point with you, since you're at the centre of this topic. Over the years, statistics, records, and goals have always pushed you forward, and you measure yourself against them, constantly seeking to improve. It seems like now is your best chance to win the Ballon d'Or, perhaps the closest you've ever been to this award. Do you see it that way too?

To date, it is the best opportunity. If there are other opportunities in the future, we'll have to wait and see. But so far, this is undoubtedly the best opportunity of my career. I spoke about it quite frankly last season: from a personal perspective, it was undoubtedly my best year; from a team perspective, both in terms of trophies won and team performances, it was also my best year.

Winning the Ballon d'Or would certainly be an extraordinary achievement. I know it's been discussed a lot, and it will certainly continue for the next month until the results are announced. It's part of the game. If I win it, I'll be very proud. Last year I achieved many goals I'm proud of. But as I've always said, ultimately it depends on others' judgment, on how they see the players and their performances from last season. So we'll have to wait and see what happens. I know this won't be the last time I talk about the Ballon d'Or, as there's about a month left until the results are announced. For now, I'm focused on helping England get a victory tomorrow night.

This might be a difficult question to answer. Harry, do you think you should win the Ballon d'Or?

So I... try to avoid... (laughs)

Great answer, mate. This is the first time we've seen you since the World Cup, and you've had some time to reflect on that tournament. England had many positives in that competition, and of course, exiting in the semifinal was very disappointing. Antony Gordon said something interesting yesterday: he agreed with Thomas Tuchel's view that England should play to its strengths. Perhaps we can't control possession like Spain, and perhaps we should play more directly, better utilizing our physical and pace advantages. As you can imagine, this sparked a lot of discussion among journalists and fans, because we also see that you players often play that kind of football at your respective clubs. What's your take?

I completely understand his point. Spain's playing style has become part of their football culture. They play according to a specific style and method from age five or six, right through to becoming professional players. The situation in England isn't quite the same.

That doesn't mean we can't control possession or manage the ball under pressure. We also have very technical players who can do those things. But we also have many advantages they don't possess, such as physicality, pace, and power. Before the World Cup, many people talked about how physically challenging it would be for England, but I said then that I actually thought it was one of our greatest strengths. Our pressing style, our ability to cope with pressure, and our ability to win duels are all in some way characteristic of Premier League football.

So I think tomorrow you'll see an England team that demonstrates these qualities. When we're at our best, we can combine both aspects. We won't become a team that plays exactly like Spain. They're very good at their style, but we also have many strengths we can show tomorrow night, like playing more directly, making runs in behind, set pieces—which are equally important in today's game—plus many other qualities.

I think it's important to have our own style and not simply try to imitate other teams. Of course, you can take elements from different teams' playing styles, and that can happen when you play at club level. But ultimately, we have to play as England, showcasing our characteristics, especially in important matches.

Harry, I want to ask you about your future and your contract. Your Bayern Munich contract expires this year, and I know you're discussing a renewal. Can you give us an update on the current progress? Also, at the start of the new season, you're in the best form of your career, yet you're also facing some uncertainty about your future. How are you managing both things?

The negotiations are going well, and I've always been very open about it. We're still in contact, and I believe things are heading in the right direction. Both parties are relaxed, because I think everyone can see that I'm very happy there. Both my performances on the pitch and what I've said off it demonstrate that. I've always been very open about it. So I hope both parties can reach an agreement.

As for the psychological impact, I think I just do what I normally do. I like to take things season by season. Contractually, I have nine months left, so from that perspective, nothing has really changed. However, during this camp, I prefer to focus on being here and on England. Contract negotiations can be put on hold for now, and my team around me can continue to communicate and handle them. I think a decision should be made in about a month, and I believe it will be a positive outcome.

I also want to ask specifically: you've always placed great importance on post-match recovery over the years. Now that you're thirty, many people would say a player at this age is approaching the end of his career, even though you're currently in excellent form. Do you feel that your consistent attention to post-match recovery over the years is starting to pay dividends?

Absolutely. Recovery is extremely important in our sport, especially with today's schedule—season after season, barely any breaks. Three weeks off, then it's time to start again. Therefore, recovery has become one of the most important parts.

I laid the foundations for this from a young age. This is also thanks to having good people and a solid support system around me, which allowed me to learn early on about nutrition, recovery, gym training, and all the things that help maintain good condition. I believe these things have brought me to where I am today and make me feel so good now.

Over the last ten years or so, football, and indeed sport in general, has changed. There's increasingly more talk about athletic performance and better understanding of recovery's role in it. I wouldn't be surprised if in the future more and more players maintain a high level for longer. Ronaldo, Modric, Messi, and Lewandowski are examples. They continue to play exceptionally well at thirty, even approaching forty. That's also my goal.

Sometimes, players at this age can easily start thinking about when their career will end. But why not keep pushing until your body or mind tells you that you can't go on anymore? Tom Brady is one of my heroes; he played at the highest level until age forty-four. That proves it's possible in sport. Of course, it requires a lot of investment, and at a certain age, perhaps even more. But I enjoy this part of the work. I think these efforts have really put me in an excellent position now.

Tradotto dall'IA.

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