Harry Kane to captain England at 2018 World Cup in Russia

Harry Kane will captain England at this summer's World Cup in Russia. Gareth Southgate has shared the leadership role around since taking over as manager in 2016 but has now appointed the Tottenham striker for the tournament in Russia. The 24-year-old was first given the armband for the qualifier against Scotland last June and has skippered the side on three further occasions. Southgate, announced his decision during a team meeting at St George's Park on Monday, said: "Harry has some outstanding personal qualities. He is a meticulous professional and one of the most important things for a captain is that they set the standard every day. "He has belief and high standards and it is a great message for the team to have a captain who has shown that it is possible to be one of the best in the world over a consistent period of time and that has been his drive. "My feeling is that over the last 18 months in the camps that he's been with us he has shown that he has got the desire to take that into a team environment and he recognises the importance of bringing others with him." ___________ Read more In pictures: All 12 Russia 2018 World Cup stadiums Lowdown: Where to watch 2018 Fifa World Cup matches in the UAE and kick-off times Richard Jolly: Southgate proves to be England’s courteous radical with squad selection Ramadan 2018: Saudi Arabia players to fast intermittently during World Cup preparation ___________ Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson - currently preparing for the Champions League final with the Reds - and Kane's clubmate Eric Dier were seen as the other likeliest contenders. The retired Wayne Rooney, the dropped Joe Hart and Gary Cahill - who is heading to Russia after a last-minute reprieve - have also captained the Three Lions under Southgate. And just because Kane has been installed as the figurehead, the notion of collective responsibility will not abandoned any time soon. "Harry will need the support of the other good leaders that we have got around him," said the manager. "You don't become a top team by just having a good captain with good values because that has got to spread right throughout the group but I think he is the one who is ready to take that challenge on."

Harry Kane to captain England at 2018 World Cup in Russia

Coach Gareth Southgate praises the 'outstanding personal qualities' of the Tottenham Hotspur striker