What is the ‘Harry Kane curse’? Final Heartbreak Continues as “Kane Curse” Strikes Again
England captain Harry Kane experienced yet another final defeat as Gareth Southgate’s team lost to Spain in the Euro 2024 final and the curse continues.
The match in Berlin ended in disappointment for the Three Lions who have now suffered back-to-back European final losses following their defeat to Italy in Euro 2020.
Kane (the experienced striker for Bayern Munich) was forced off the pitch due to fitness concerns with more than a quarter of the game still remaining. Although Kane scored 3 goals in the tournament but his performance was largely uninspiring adding to his growing list of final defeats.
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The “Harry Kane Curse” and Trophy Woes
Kane’s struggles in finals have led to talk of the “Kane Curse.” Despite his impressive goal-scoring record the England captain is yet to secure a major trophy in his career.
His move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2023/24 season was seen as a chance to finally win silverware. However, Bayern ended their 11-year Bundesliga dominance in 2024, losing the title to Bayer Leverkusen.
This latest setback in the Euro 2024 final has England fans questioning if Kane’s bad luck in the finals has followed him to the national team.
Kane’s trophy record remains at zero despite his prolific goal-scoring abilities. He left Tottenham as the club’s record goal scorer with 213 Premier League goals (second only to Alan Shearer’s 260 in the all-time list).
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Kane’s Unfortunate Final Record
Harry Kane has developed a reputation as a “nearly man” at the highest level having lost in five major finals.
With Tottenham he faced defeats in two – the EFL Cup finals and the 2021 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool. On the international stage – Kane has now experienced heartbreak in two European Championship finals losing to Italy in 2020 and Spain in 2024.
| Tournament | Year | Team | Defeated By |
| EFL Cup | 2015 | Tottenham | Chelsea |
| EFL Cup | 2021 | Tottenham | Manchester City |
| UEFA Champions League | 2019 | Tottenham | Liverpool |
| UEFA European Championship | 2021 | England | Italy |
| UEFA European Championship | 2024 | England | Spain |
Despite his personal success including 44 goals in 45 games for Bayern Munich in his first season in Germany Kane’s quest for a major trophy continues. Bayern Munich’s 2024/25 season kicks off on August 24 at Wolfsburg, and Kane will be hoping to turn his fortunes around.
As Kane prepares for the new campaign the “Harry Kane Curse” remains a talking point among fans and pundits alike. Will the England captain finally break his run of bad luck and lift a trophy?