For the first time ever, a World Cup will take place in the middle of the European season.
This has received much backlash from many a fan and pundit.
However, Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane has suggested it could be a good thing for players as they are already match fit and have not had a break:
“I’d rather be going into it playing loads of games where you feel match fit,” he said this week. “Sometimes after the season in the summer you have a break and then you have to gear back up to play and you haven’t played a lot of games. Rolling into it can help — as long as you manage it well and you recover well. I think recovery is the most important thing for any player in this period.
“You can try and train as much as you can, but the bottom line is you need to be ready to have all your energy ready for the game, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Kane’s England get their World Cup campaign underway on Monday vs Iran, with the striker no doubt eager to start well and once again battle for the Golden Boot, which he won in 2018.
“Now he is arriving to play the World Cup with great enthusiasm, in a good physical condition and, in my opinion, he is mentally stronger than before,” Conte said last week.
“I see a player ready and I see in his eyes the desire to be a protagonist in the best competition in the world. I try to push every player to try to become better, but also it’s happening with Harry. We are talking about a really world-class striker. He can continue to improve and to become stronger and stronger. I think so.
“He’s arriving at this World Cup in the best physical and mental condition.”
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