EXCLUSIVE: Harry Kane reveals what it'll be like to face Germany at Euro 2024

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: Harry Kane of England portrait before the UEFA EURO 2024 European qualifier match between England and Malta at Wembley Stadium on November 17, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Harry Kane is squarely focused on captaining England to Euro 2024 glory next summer – and he admits that facing hosts Germany, where he now plays his club football for Bayern Munich, could make for an interesting encounter along the way.

The two old rivals were kept apart in Saturday's group-stage draw – but there's always the possibility of a knockout meeting, just as there was at the previous Euros, where Kane scored as the Three Lions beat the Germans 2-0 in the last 16 at Wembley.

Bayern's number nine isn't overly preoccupied with the thought of a repeat tie, however, as he tells FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview for our December issue.

MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 11: Harry Kane of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 at Allianz Arena on November 11, 2023 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Kane has already banged in 22 goals in 18 appearances for Bayern (Image credit: Getty Images)

"Whether we have to play the Germans or not, the focus is to try to win the European Championship," Kane says. "So, we'll have to wait and see if that happens. When you're playing against club teammates, it's always a bit of a strange game – but it's something I've got used to more over the years, playing international football."

Naturally, now being a Bayern player following his £86m summer move from Tottenham, Kane will be very familiar with many members of the German national squad, such as Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sane and new friend Thomas Muller – although he tells us, jovially, that he hasn't discussed another potential England vs Germany clash with the latter: "No, I haven't felt like bringing that one up!"

DORTMUND, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 4: Harry Kane of Bayern München celebrates with Thomas Müller of Bayern after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern München at Signal Iduna Park on November 4, 2023 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

Will Kane and Muller come up against one another at Euro 2024? (Image credit: Getty Images)

If such an occasion does materialise, though, Kane is fully aware of just how tough a test it could be for Gareth Southgate's side – who finished as Euro runners-up to Italy two years ago.

"Germany are still one of the best teams in Europe," he insists, despite their crashing out at the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. "The Euros will be tough, whether or not we end up facing the hosts – but we've played them before and we know we can expect them to refocus and challenge for the trophy."

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Tom Hancock

Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...

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