Harry Kane didn’t score enough against Norway – it was left to his junior pro Jude Bellingham. But when he came to media, he spoke like a hurricane in 390 words in 124 seconds. Many Japanese looking for videos of English footballers talking on the other side of the world were completely confused.
Using Eiken to listen to prompts for Eiken Grade 1 English language tests might not be the easiest idea.
Voice teacher Molly Parker said last week that Ken comes from Walthamstow and speaks with a north London, estuary accent which he thought was historically not as difficult to understand as northern or Scots is still very difficult to understand. Parker attributed it to glottalization or whistling. Its t also sounds like f, think is fink.
The Japanese online hordes naturally attacked as they tried to make sense of his happy, rushed, buzzing speech.
What he said was, “Tough game, hot, really brutal. Almost harder than Mexico with the heat and humidity… But again we found a way. It wasn’t our prettiest performance. We know that. We know, as I said earlier in yesterday’s press conference, you know there’s another level that we can reach. Yet it feels like we haven’t reached it yet.
“But again today we’ve got Jude, who was a game-changer again today, and the guys in the backfield picked us up. Everybody’s just putting in an amazing shift. The guy’s next to me now, so, yeah, amazing shift for me and everybody, everyone involved just worked hard. And the most important element of that team, we showed the will and desire of that team again. Today,” he said.
Kane was then asked if he would be surprised to learn the manager was unhappy with the performance. “Did he tell you that?”
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The storm picked up again. No need to disagree with Tom Tuchel. “Yes, he said the changing room, it’s a big compliment and we should enjoy it and celebrate. I still think there’s a part of him that knows we can do better.” He recognized that it was only quarters, with Argentina coming forward. (The Swiss were still in the frame then).
“Which, in a way, is a good thing…” Kane continued. “We’re in the semi-finals of the World Cup, we can still improve, find another level and that’s where we got the positives. We had the most important elements as a team. We showed that again today. If you can start to get possession of the ball a little bit better, we’ve got two big games ahead,” he said.
After Argentina, England will have to overtake France. or Spain.
Kane was asked about his backline: Jed Spence, Reece James, Dan Byrne.
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“Yes, we talked about it six weeks ago, when we met, you know, we need everybody and I know that sometimes the competition doesn’t always feel like that. The guys who don’t always get the starting places can be disappointed, and of course they had that right, but whenever people come on the pitch, they give their all to the guy who got the shirt today. Yes, DJ, especially, was great when he came on – the fullness he brought to the 1v1 duel. The energy helped change the game for us and that’s what we needed.”
His mileage was as quick as the word in the semi-finals. “You know there’s a quick turnaround now. We play again on Wednesday. The match against Argentina or Switzerland is going to be tougher, so we need everyone as possible this week.”
Noel’s Promise of Wonderwall
While Kane’s interview after Mexico went viral around the world, the interview is infuriating in Japan for how (and how quickly) he speaks. But Ken’s singing voice did not escape scrutiny.
Noel Gallagher will say on Twitter: “Harry Kane and England’s Wonderwall song is very difficult.” The drummer-voiced singer has promised to sing if England win the World Cup.
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In another presentation Kane and Bellingham locked arms, as the whole team joined in the file, for another victory celebration, Argentina would be a marmalade.