Harry Kane was left ‘alone and vulnerable’ before England World Cup penalty miss

Harry Kane was left ‘alone and vulnerable’ in the crucial 30 seconds before he missed his penalty against France, a leading football psychology professor has highlighted, because his usual ‘protector’ Jordan Henderson had been taken off.

England captain Kane skied his spot-kick in the 84th minute of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final, condemning the Three Lions to a 2-1 defeat and elimination.

The Tottenham striker had earlier successfully converted a penalty to draw England level at 1-1 but couldn’t restore parity for a second time following the uncharacteristic miss.

Geir Jordet, a professor at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, has offered insight into why Kane missed in a fascinating series of tweets.

He pointed out that Liverpool midfielder Henderson is ‘world leading’ in standing with team-mates about to take a penalty, ensuring opponents cannot get close to ‘play mind games’ or put the kick taker off.

Henderson was on the pitch for the first penalty, taking the ball himself and then handing it over to Kane, before ensuring no French players could get near him for a ‘last word.’

However, Henderson was taken off five minutes before Kane’s second kick and so could not perform ‘his normal supportive role’, Jordet points out.

That left Kane surrounded by only French players for the first 30 seconds after the penalty was given by VAR following Theo Hernandez’s push on Mason Mount.

Mount and then Jude Bellingham realised this and stepped forward to accompany Kane, with Bellingham even ‘escorting’ Olivier Giroud out of the area.

But Jordet asks: ‘All good but was this reactive and too late? And did it even add noise rather than take it away?’

Bellingham, showing the maturity beyond his 19 years, was the first to comfort Kane after his penalty cleared the crossbar but the damage was already done.

More to follow.