Harry Kane savours Champions League ‘war’ with England team-mate Jude Bellingham
Harry Kane is ready to go into battle against Jude Bellingham for a spot in the Champions League final before the pair aim to lead England to Euro 2024 glory.
England captain Kane moved to Bayern Munich from Tottenham last year while Bellingham left Borussia Dortmund to join Real Madrid.
Both helped their respective clubs to Champions League quarter-final wins over Premier League sides on Wednesday night as Bayern beat Arsenal and Real saw off Manchester City on penalties. Bellingham scored in that shoot-out while Kane netted a first-leg spot-kick at the Emirates Stadium.
Those wins tee up a mouth-watering semi-final clash between two clubs who have won 20 European Cups between them.
Despite Arsenal and City being eliminated, meaning the first semi-final line-up since 2020 with no Premier League clubs, Kane believes there will still be plenty of English interest in how he and Bellingham fare.
“Jude has had a fantastic season, he’s a top player,” he said.
“I’m really happy for him but it will be another war against his team – but that’s the experiences that we both went abroad to try to achieve, to play in these big nights in the Champions League, to play in these big semi-finals.
“It will be one to enjoy and I’m sure there will be a lot of English fans watching both of us. We have to focus on ourselves. Of course, I’ll say hello but once we’re on the pitch, it’s business.”
Kane is still yet to win a major trophy in his career and also has the added incentive of the Champions League final taking place at Wembley on June 1, with either Dortmund or Paris St Germain awaiting the winner of Real and Bayern.
“For both of us, for sure,” Kane replied when asked if Wembley is the dream for him and Bellingham.
“With Wembley being our national stadium, it’s extra motivation there for us but there are two games ahead of us before that, which are going to be really tough so we have to focus on that.
“Real Madrid are a big club with amazing history in the Champions League so it’s going to be a really difficult game for us.
“But that’s what the semi-finals of the Champions League are all about, the biggest teams, so we enjoy this tonight and then prepare for that game in a couple of weeks.”
Home
/
Champions League
Kylian Mbappe 'sparks tunnel brawl' with Barcelona players after Champions League triumph
PSG eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League on Tuesday evening
Mbappe netted twice in a 4-1 victory in the return leg
Reports suggest PSG forward sparked a 60-man brawl in the tunnel after the game
By Tom Gott
12:00 PM GMT+1
Mbappe netted twice against Barcelona
Mbappe netted twice against Barcelona / Christian Liewig - Corbis/GettyImages
Kylian Mbappe found himself at the centre of a brawl in the tunnel after Paris Saint-Germain's 4-1 win over Barcelona on Tuesday, a report has claimed.
Mbappe, who is expected to join Barcelona's rivals Real Madrid this summer, netted twice in an ultimately comfortable victory which dumped Xavi's side out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe was one of several PSG players who left the field in a particularly celebratory mood and the 25-year-old was heard shouting: "This is football and it is on the field where we have to talk."
The report claims a number of Barcelona stars took offence to this, believing Mbappe was making an intentional dig at them, and confronted the Frenchman in the tunnel. There were "insults, shouts and shoving" as close to 60 people were involved in the clash.
Staff and security personnel ultimately separated the groups before anything serious occurred.
Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe reportedly sparked tension in the tunnel / Christian Liewig - Corbis/GettyImages
Mbappe also attracted frustration from a handful of Barcelona fans after the game after appearing to direct his celebrations towards them.
The PSG forward made no attempt to steer his celebrations away from the Barcelona supporters who remained in the stadium and drew some heated reactions from those in the stands before he headed down the tunnel.
Despite heading for the exit door, Mbappe made it clear to the media that he hopes to fulfil a dream of leading PSG to Champions League glory but, while he is yet to publicly confirm his exit, he stressed even lifting the trophy will not impact his decision.
"No, no, no," Mbappe responded when asked if his choice could change before the end of the season.
READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD
•
Former Man Utd midfielder warns Joao Neves against summer transfer
•
Football transfer rumours: Tottenham ready Martial move; Liverpool eye surprise Salah replacement
•
Bayer Leverkusen confirm Florian Wirtz price tag
•
Jude Bellingham reveals why he joined Real Madrid over Liverpool & Man City
•
Football transfer rumours: Sancho's shock Man Utd return; Arsenal want £68m defender
Related Topics
Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain
Champions League
Transfers
FC Barcelona
Real Madrid CF
Xavi
Home
/
Arsenal
Arsenal miss out on Club World Cup spot after bowing out of Champions League
Arsenal have failed to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup after bowing out of the Champions League
Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg will now take their place in the tournament
The Gunners missed out on a chance to advance in the Champions League after suffering a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich
By Katie Catherall
Apr 18, 2024
Arsenal fail to qualify for the Club World Cup
Arsenal fail to qualify for the Club World Cup / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Arsenal have failed to qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after bowing out of the Champions League following a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Mikel Arteta's side faced heartbreak in Germany after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Bundesliga side Bayern, ending their hopes of European success. Their departure from the tournament also means they fail to qualify for the Club World Cup in the United States.
Teams can qualify in one of two ways: by having won the Champions League since 2021, or via a ranking system of their performances in the tournament over four seasons.
Only two teams per country can qualify, unless a nation has three different UCL winners in the last four years. Therefore, Arsenal needed to win this year's competition to join 2021 winners Chelsea and reigning champions Manchester City.
Club World Cup trophy
Arsenal will not battle for the Club World Cup / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages
Their exit does, however, open up a spot for Red Bull Salzburg, who have played 26 Champions League games over the last four seasons.
Arsenal came close to European success in Germany, holding on to a 0-0 scoreline until a single goal in the 63rd minute from Joshua Kimmich secured Bayern a place in the semi-final.
The Bundesliga side will now face Real Madrid, who knocked out Pep Guardiola's City at the Etihad on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners will be forced to set their sights on Premier League silverware as they fight to keep City from retaining their league title. Arsenal currently sit in second place, level on points with Liverpool but with a significant advantage in goal difference.
Arteta's side return to action on Saturday when they travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.
READ THE LATEST ARSENAL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
•
4 things Arsenal got wrong against Bayern Munich
•
Mikel Arteta digs at Bayern Munich's approach in Champions League win
•
6 takeaways from thrilling Champions League quarter-finals
•
The 10 best players from the Champions League quarter-finals - ranked
Related Topics
World Cup
Arsenal FC
Champions League
Bundesliga
World Cup - Germany
FIFA
Premier League
Chelsea FC
Manchester City FC
Liverpool FC
