Harry Kane plays down Haaland duel and Golden Boot battle before Norway tie

Harry Kane refused to be drawn into comparisons with Erling Haaland on the eve of England's FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Norway, insisting his only focus is leading his team to the title rather than winning the Golden Boot.

In Short

• Kane sits one goal behind Haaland in the tournament's Golden Boot race
• Kane said he and Haaland play differently despite both being strikers
• England manager Thomas Tuchel praised Kane's leadership and influence

Harry Kane has brushed aside comparisons with Erling Haaland and insisted winning the FIFA World Cup with England matters far more than the Golden Boot as the two-star strikers prepare to face off in Saturday's quarter-final against Norway.

The England captain enters the last-eight clash trailing Haaland by one goal in the race for the tournament's top scorer award. Haaland has seven goals, while Kane has six, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe leading the standings on eight.

Despite the individual battle adding another subplot to the quarter-final, Kane made it clear his focus remains firmly on helping England reach the semi-finals.

"My main goal is to win the World Cup with England, not the Golden Boot," Kane told reporters on Friday.

"But I also know I'm the goalscorer. I'm the number nine. So if I'm scoring goals, it's obviously going to help the team."

Asked whether he considered himself a better striker than Haaland, Kane declined to draw comparisons, saying the two forwards have very different styles.

"It's impossible for me to answer. I think we're completely different players almost. I know we're both senior strikers, but we play almost two different positions," Kane said.

"I see myself as a different player, although I score the same goals. I like to maybe touch the ball a little bit more, but I can also play as maybe the out-and-out nine."

Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup, was equally generous in his assessment of the Norway captain, describing Haaland as one of the game's most complete finishers.

"Erling has been incredible. Physically, he's a machine, he's a beast. His finishing is at the highest level and obviously his goal-scoring record speaks for itself," Kane said.

"I respect him a lot as a player, as a fellow professional. Obviously, hoping he has a quiet day tomorrow, but I think his overall performances over these recent years speak for themselves. He's a fantastic player."

Saturday's match will also be a personal milestone for Kane, who is set to equal Wayne Rooney's record of 120 appearances as England's most-capped outfield player.

The 32-year-old said matching Rooney's achievement was a proud moment but insisted he remained focused on the immediate challenge rather than long-term records.

"Obviously, extremely proud to reach the same caps as Wazza, one of England's greatest ever players," Kane said.

"I don't like to look too far ahead into the future. I like to take maybe a month at a time or six weeks at a time and set myself small targets throughout the season.

"Obviously, this season has gone very well on that front, but important games to play still. So I think that's what keeps me hungry."

England manager Thomas Tuchel praised Kane's leadership and influence, saying the captain continues to set the standard on and off the pitch.

"We speak about him in every match because he decides all the matches for us," Tuchel said.

"He's our leader, he leads by example. He's in the shape of his life and at the highest peak of his career. He has the mindset of a team player. He's ready to lead by example and to push everybody, always ready to take responsibility, always ready to perform and help us. It's a privilege to have him as captain and a privilege to be his coach."

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