Making your way to the top is one thing. Staying there, well, that’s something entirely different. Harry Kane will vouch for that. It is what drives him; remaining at the top of his game for was long as humanly possible.
Thankfully for England, the prolific striker is showing no indication of taking his foot off the gas.
That is good news for Lee Carsley, who will undoubtedly need Kane firing if he is to realise his ambition of turning his current interim England coach’s position into a permanent gig.
The 31-year-old, on the eve of his 100th cap, was in combative mood as he discussed his past, present and future at international level. The present? Goals. The future? More goals. ‘Staying at the top, that’s probably the hardest part,’ explained the Bayern Munich striker.
‘You see a lot of players who have a few good seasons but then drop off and I think the hardest thing to do is to maintain it and consistently play at the highest level. To consistently play at a high level is really difficult. That’s why I have so much respect for [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi and these players.
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‘To be able to do it for 15 years or 20 years is some mindset and some achievement.
‘For now, 100 caps tomorrow [Tuesday], that’s part of the reason I am really proud. As an England No 9 you come up against some good competition, some of the best strikers in England trying to take your place.
‘You have to be able to set a high standard every time you are in camp, every time you train or play – I have been able to do that and I am proud of that because it is not easy.
‘I think I’m still as hungry as ever. I love playing for England. Even when I was younger I loved watching England, I was a big England fan.
‘Every camp that comes, I don’t want to miss a camp, I don’t want to miss a game. I want to represent my country as long as I can.
'While I’m still at the level I’m at, I know I can help this country be successful. That motivates me.
‘Even coming off the back of the summer, you know we came extremely close again to reaching the ultimate dream of playing for England. But it didn’t happen.
‘Now, it’s like, OK, I know I can help this team get back there. A World Cup in two years…’
The prolific striker is showing no indication of taking his foot off the gas
Kane has not looked back since he scored on his England, notching inside 80 seconds after replacing Wayne Rooney against Lithuania in 2015.
Sixty-five goals have followed since the first, Kane has set his sights on reaching a century of England goals before he calls time on his international career.
He reminisces fondly over his favourite England moments as he held court on Monday afternoon. Of course, his debut goal against Lithuania ranks highly in his mind.
There are special mentions, too, for his late winner against Tunisia in World Cup 2018, his goal in the Euro 2020 win over Germany at Wembley and his goal in Naples against Italy which saw him overtake Rooney to become the nation’s all-time leading scorer.
He rates his best international goal as a 25-yarder in a World Cup qualifier versus Poland in September 2021. Moving forward, though, Kane acknowledges that goalscoring is no longer his only job when he meets up with England.
‘I still remember it (his debut goal) like it was yesterday. I was so eager to play a game for England when I got into the camp,’ Kane reflects.
‘We played Lithuania at home so I was hoping that we scored a few goals early because it would give me more chance of coming on and that’s what happened.
‘It got to maybe 20 minutes left, Roy [Hodgson] told me I was coming on and I waiting on the side of the pitch for ages! I think the ball didn’t go out for about four or five minutes and I was just, like, someone make a foul or something.
‘It was special, coming on for Wayne, who was a big idol of mine. All these emotions coming at once but I don’t think I could have dreamed it any better. That’s what I dreamed of as a kid, playing for England at Wembley, scoring a goal. It all happened that night.
‘But now I’m in that boat where we’ve got young players like Morgs [Morgan Gibbs-White], Angel [Gomes] and these players coming through and now looking at me to guide them into these experiences. I’m enjoying that part of my journey and being captain as well. That’s where I’m at.
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‘I think over my career, players have watched me train as well you know, sometimes you'll do a group finishing session but I might go away on my own, set up more of a specific one for me, then players will come over and join in my sessions.
'I think, from my point of view now, you've got a reputation for being one of the best goalscorers, people want to learn, people want to see what you're doing.
‘I'm always open to sharing my experiences, sharing my thoughts with new players in the squad now, I try and help as much as I can now but also stay focused on myself and try and improve as well.
‘There’s a lot of exciting stuff ahead and I think we try to take the positives from a lot of the good things we’ve done as a nation. I’ve been part of that.’ You most certainly have, Harry.