ENGLAND captain Harry Kane will miss Saturday’s friendly against Brazil – and Tuesday’s match with Belgium.

Kane will be at Wembley and is expected to fly back to Germany and continue his treatment after the friendly against the South Americans.

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He suffered an ankle injury after colliding with a post during Bayern Munich’s 5-2 win over Darmstadt last Saturday.

The 30-year-old has been training away from the team since reporting for international duty this week and will not be in danger in either of the friendlies.

Kyle Walker is likely to captain the Three Lions in Kane’s absence.

And Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will get the chance to take the lead against Brazil.

Kane has missed just one international in the last two and a half years – the 1-0 win over Australia in October.

But he will not play for England again until the Euro 2024 warm-up matches with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in June.

England have already lost Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who has returned to his club due to a minor muscle problem.

Gareth Southgate is expected to field a strong side against the Brazilians, including Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden.

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On team news, Southgate said: “No Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson or Cole Palmer tomorrow.

‘I would say that Cole and Hendo have a better chance in Belgium than Harry. He would be extremely doubtful.”

Kane, 30, has had an excellent season despite Bayern’s domestic problems.

The eternal Bundesliga champion is ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen after 26 games.

However, the England captain has scored 31 times without missing a single game in the Bundesliga, and has scored a further six goals in eight Champions League games.

THE ENGLAND football team have made headlines of late with a new kit that has sown division among fans.

Even Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer joined calls for Nike to scrap the new kit, but what is all the fuss about?

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Will England get a new kit for Euro 2024 release date?

As the England football team prepare for European Championship glory, the kit they will wear on the battlefield has finally been revealed.

On social media, the English account posted a photo of the kits: “Our England. Our pride. Our family.

The men’s collection, which Gareth Southgate’s players will wear during this summer’s European Championship, will be released on March 21, while the women’s kits will go on sale in June.

The England men’s team are expected to debut the home kit when they play Brazil in a friendly on Saturday before hosting Belgium three days later.

The Lionesses’ next match is a Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden at Wembley on April 5.

Some fans were excited about the news, calling the design an instant classic that is sure to bring football home this year.

While others have found the new kit to be “too woke” and “too expensive”.

How much does the New England kit cost?

Both the men’s and women’s competition shirts cost €124.99, while the children’s competition top costs a slightly lower price of €119.

If fans want something cheaper, they can opt for the stadium top, which costs £84.99, while the kids’ shirt costs £64.99.

Kids can also buy the full kit for £54.99, while baby kits currently cost £49.

In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Labour’s Keir Starmer criticized the prices and said they should be cut.

He said: ‘I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change in the first place.

“They could also lower the price of the shirts.”

Why did Nike change the English flag?

Fans quickly noticed that the traditional red cross on the Three Lions kit has been changed to a cross of navy blue, light blue and purple.

It is believed to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit, which featured blue, red and purple.

The change led to some calling the shirt “woke”, as they called on the manufacturer to return to the usual colours.

But according to The mailNike will not succumb to the pressure from some English fans.

A Nike spokesperson said: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.

“The piping on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blue and red topped with purple.

“The same colors also feature an interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.”

It is understood the flag change was the work of a Nike designer, but was also signed off by the FA.

And the FA insists the decision was made to “honor the classic 1966 training kit color scheme”.

Sir Keir told The Sun that the “flag is used by everyone, it is unifying and does not need to be changed”.

He said, “We should just be proud of it. So I think they should just rethink this and change it back.”

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Which kit will England wear?

The home kit is classic white with a blue collar and blue shorts.

Meanwhile, the second strip is all purple and is receiving high praise from fans.

Finally, the goalkeepers will appear between the sticks in striking orange jerseys.

Although some fans are baffled by the away kit, arguing that it is the new optical illusion of the “blue and black dress”.

Why is the England kit purple?

According to a statement from the England football team, the new match kit is inspired by old football legends.

The team said that “the striking purple color is a remix of red and blue from the past.”

So it looks like the team has decided to mix kits from the past, which were usually blue or red, to take the team into the future.

Many fans were excited about the look of the comics.

One said: “So this is what Kane will look like when he lifts the European Championship trophy this summer.”

While a second replied: “Omg we actually win it all.”

And a third said: “Honestly some of our best kit ever.”

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The art of carving the perfect statue is clearly a difficult one to nail, even for the most talented and professional of sculptors. 

This week The Big Issue revealed pictures of a long-awaited resemblance of England captain Harry Kane commissioned by Waltham Forest Council. 

But the reaction to the £7,200 statue did not quite go down as anticipated, as fans were quick to pronounce it the ‘stuff of nightmares’. 

One asked: ‘Does any professional footballer have a decent statue? Why do they all look so bad?’ 

But it is not just footballers who have had unfortunate likenesses of themselves made – and some are so suspect that they are even unrecognisable. 

From the world’s most famous figures, including royals, celebrities and sporting giants, many have been made a victim of the dodgy statue curse. 

Here, FEMAIL takes a look at some of the worst offenders, both in the UK and abroad. 

But can you guess who they’re meant to be? Take a look below. 

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo 

This horrific bust of Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the world’s most famous shocking statue. 

The bronze statue was unveiled in March 2017, less than a year after Ronaldo had won Euro 2016 with Portugal. 

It stands outside an airport in Madeira, the famous player’s hometown, in what was meant to be a nice gesture. 

The forward, 39, has even visited the statue – and would definitely have been in for a shock. 

2. Melania Trump

In 2019, conceptual artist Ales Maxi Zupevc created what she claimed was the first-ever monument of Melania Trump – and unbelievably, it wasn’t the last. 

Unveiled near the former First Lady’s hometown in Slovenia, some described the wooden statue as a ‘disgrace’, saying it looked like a ‘Smurfette’. 

But the statue, carved from a tree trunk, didn’t last long as it was burned down that year by unnamed arsonists. 

Months later, it found a new lease of life and was replaced with a bronze version.  

3. Mo Salah 

If you’re not sure who this statue is meant to be, we really wouldn’t blame you. 

The creation of Mo Salah was made by Egyptian sculptor Mai Abdel Allah went on display at the World Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh. 

The incarnation of the Liverpool player, 31, seems decidedly out of proportion.  

But it wasn’t long before people compared it to characters such as Marv from Home Alone and Dobby from Harry Potter. 

‘Why does he have the body of an eight-year-old?’ one fan asked.  

4. Lucille Ball 

In 2009, a statue of American actress and comedian Lucille Ball was unveiled in her hometown in Celoron, New York. 

Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Lucille passed away in 1989 aged 77.  

A Facebook page even sprung up called ‘We love Lucy! Get Rid of this Statue!’ and locals knew it as ‘Scary Lucy’. 

Even artist Dave Poulin was forced to admit that the work was a bit ‘unsettling’. 

However, Lucille’s statue was also one that didn’t end up standing the test of time, and it was replaced in 2016. 

5. The Queen and Prince Philip  

This gigantic 12ft terracotta head is actually meant to resemble the late Queen Elizabeth II – and what’s more, there is one of her husband Prince Philip too. 

Owner Ben Bennett found the regal sculptures in a house clearance and erected them on his lawn in Windsor. 

After owning them for 12 years since the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, he has now put them up for sale for £2,000. 

So if you’d like to snatch these sculptures for your own garden, you better hurry. 

Make sure you have plenty of space though, as they are 18 feet wide. 

6. Kate Moss 

Kate Moss was as you’ve never seen her before in a gold statue once displayed at the British Museum. 

It cost more than £1.5million to make in 2008, and £1million of that was the price of the 18 carat gold.  

The supermodel was for some reason twisted like a pretzel and the artwork was called ‘Siren’. 

But Kate herself seemed to be a fan according to artist Marc Quinn, who said at the time: ‘When I showed Kate the statue she told me she loved it.

‘She really liked the idea and she modelled for me for a day or so.

‘She didn’t pose for me like that. For Kate, she thinks it lifts her into a mythic level. I think she very much loved it because she understands the difference between her image and her self.

‘The sculpture is really about whether we make images or they make us. It’s about trying to live up to impossible dreams and immortality.’

7. Johnny Depp  

Johnny Depp unveiled this statue of himself at a Serbian film festival in 2010. 

But the Pirates of the Caribbean star couldn’t help but look slightly amused at his ‘likeness’ of him in 1993 film Arizona Dream. 

And as he stood next to his statue, it was clear to make out where the likeness hadn’t entirely worked. 

8. Andy Murray

The main – and only – thing Andy Murray had in common with his statue was his characteristically solemn expression. 

Organisers at the 2011 Shanghai Rolex Masters tournament immortalised him in terracotta for the occasion. 

The statue made sure he looked like a warrior, instead of a tennis player, even giving him a coat of armour. 

If Andy was confused by his statue, he tried very hard not to show it.  

9. Greta Thunberg

The University of Winchester’s statue of Greta Thunberg was created for a whopping £24,000. 

The statue of the Swedish activist named ‘Make A Difference’ was unveiled outside the university’s main entrance in March 2021 but was moved to a more secluded spot this January. 

After its installation, the sculpture – which was commissioned by the institution – created a backlash among students and locals alike who accused the university of ‘wasting money on meaningless statues’. 

Locals in the Hampshire city also expressed bemusement over the sculpture as the activist had no link to the area.

10. Colin Firth  

The 1995 scene from Pride and Prejudice where Colin Firth as Mr Darcy emerges from a lake with a wet shirt was once voted the most memorable moment in British TV drama. 

But some fans seemed to take it too far – and a 12ft version of Mr Darcy was placed in the Serpentine Lake in London’s Hyde Park in 2013. 

The massive statue looked rather intimidating in its new home in the lake, and even went on to tour around the rest of the UK. 

The model took a team of three sculptors more than two months to design, construct and paint and measured 12 feet – the equivalent to the height of a double decker bus. 

Lead sculptor Toby Crowther said they also got inspiration from the book and the other actors who have played Mr Darcy over the years. 

He said at the time: ‘We took Colin Firth’s famous lake scene as a starting point for creating Mr Darcy but we also read the book and looked at performances of the brooding hero by Matthew Macfadyen, David Rintoul and even Laurence Olivier.

‘The challenge for us was capturing the spirit of Darcy as handsome and noble but also aloof and proud. The Mr Darcy sculpture is a real mix of the many portrayals of Jane Austen’s most famous hero.’

BAYERN MUNICH are reportedly interested in appointing Antonio Conte as their next manager.

The Italian boss has been out of work since March last year following his dismissal from Tottenham.

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But he could be tempted by the chance to succeed for the first time in Germany with Bayern.

It would also give him the chance to work with Harry Kane again after managing the striker at Spurs.

He is seen as a priority for Bayern and one of their top candidates to replace Thomas Tuchel La Repubblica.

But negotiations are proving difficult and Conte is likely to demand a significant salary after earning £15million a year at Tottenham.

Bayern have a number of targets they are looking at, including Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso.

Faced with a first season without trophies in twelve years, Bayern’s main plan was to reach the end of the season with Tuchel and assess the situation.

But last month it was confirmed that Tuchel will actually leave at the end of this campaign.

Conte, 54, has won the Premier League and Serie A four times with two different clubs.

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He also led Spurs to an unlikely Champions League qualification and got the best out of Kane, who scored 32 goals under Conte last season.

If Conte returns, he will also reunite with Eric Dier, whom he previously managed.

HARRY KANE has been given the green light to report for England duty tomorrow despite fears over his ankle injury.

The Three Lions captain was injured in a bizarre collision with a goalpost during Bayern Munich’s 5-2 win in Darmstadt on Saturday.

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Kane, 30, will join Gareth Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park ahead of the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium despite limping out of the Bundesliga match.

Although it is hoped his twisted left ankle is not too serious, he is far from certain of playing against Brazil at Wembley on Saturday.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund said: “Harry will be watched in England.

“He trusted the doctors there. We are in close consultation about this. Harry won’t take any chances.”

The English all-time top scorer scored his 31st goal of the season for Bayern just before half-time.

It meant the ex-Spurs striker set a new record for a player in their first Bundesliga season, beating Uwe Seeler’s 30 for Hamburg in 1963-64.

The striker is on course to break Robert Lewandowski’s record of 41 goals in the German top flight, set during his time as a Bayern player in 2020/21.

And his club will be desperately hoping Kane is fit for the Champions League quarter-final against Arsenal next month.

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Meanwhile, Sasa Lukic fired a warning shot at England ahead of their Euro 2024 clash with Serbia after clashing with James Maddison during a dress rehearsal.

The 27-year-old Fulham midfield enforcer defeated Tottenham’s number 10 in a 3-0 home win at Craven Cottage.

Lukic will hope to repeat that combative form for the Serbs against the Three Lions in the European Championship Group C opener in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.

And when asked if he enjoyed facing Jude Bellingham & Co in Germany, Lukic’s face lit up.

Lukic, who has 42 caps to his name, said: “Yes, I can’t wait.

“Today was like a dress rehearsal because Maddison was there and it will definitely be a good game against England at the European Championship.

“I am proud to be Serbian and to play for my country. We are participating in the European Championships for the first time in our history and I hope to do well.”

Lukic scored his first goal in English football since joining from Serie A side Torino for £8million in January 2023, but the crucial deflection of a cross came from his knee.

He laughed: “It was my knee, it was strange, but it is important to score a goal. I hope to score a lot of goals for Fulham.

“This was my fourth match in a row. I didn’t play much before that.

“It was difficult, it was not an easy time. I’ve been working on myself a lot.

“But it proved that with a performance like this – and the one against Manchester United and Brighton – my work has paid off.

“Do we feel unbeatable at home? Yes, of course we feel that. It’s really fun to play here because the fans are like our twelfth man. We give everything for them.”

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OUR football mascot Harry Mane enjoyed the luxury of the fantastic England team hotel for Euro 2024 yesterday – and relaxed with a copy of the super-roaring Sun.

The Three Lions defeated hosts Germany with the best available base ahead of the June tournament.

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And our furry footie fan looked like the big cat in the cream, with his paws up on one of the beds that Harry Kane and Co will sleep in during their glory bid.

The Weimarer Land Golf Resort and Spa scored on all counts when we received special permission to do so judgement It.

Gareth Southgate’s team will be served by 160 staff at the sprawling 350-hectare leisure site in Blankenhain, eastern Germany – including a robot waiter called Robbie.

Robbie, blue eyes flashing, says phrases in German including “Excuse me” and “Please let me get on with my work” as he collects dishes from guests at one of the hotel’s six restaurants.

Our Harry – named after the England goal-scoring captain – devoured a rare steak before a Peter Crouch-style robot danced with the droid.

He went further and tried his own brand of crazy golf on one of the woodland site’s three courses, where England stars can relax between matches and training.

Harry also showed off his silky skills on the immaculate UEFA standard training pitch installed at the venue for the England team.

Then he went to warm up in the spa complex.

Wags and families are expected to visit as England head to the finals in Berlin – and the ‘Rabbit Club’ will organize play activities for children.

The hotel has been massively redeveloped by millionaire entrepreneur Matthias Grafe.

I’ve always said I only want one team here – the team that wins the European Championship – and I believe that team will be England.

Mathias GrafeHotel owner

Leipzig is the nearest major city, but Erfurt, a 40-minute drive away, has good air and rail links to all ten tournament stadiums.

Southgate is said to be impressed with the space and facilities offered in the isolated but safe rural location.

FA planners signed a deal estimated at £800,000 for exclusive use of the 94-room hotel and its facilities for the duration of the tournament.

The Germans wanted to base their squad at the resort and will stay there for about two weeks in the run-up to the tournament.

But they are contractually obliged to transfer to a base in Herzogenaurach, the Bavarian hometown of their kit maker Adidas.

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German adidas banners and colors will be removed and replaced with logos from English sponsor Nike and the Three Lions decor before the stars arrive.

Players stay in simply furnished, wood-clad rooms with views of the pine forest.

Temptations include the crisp Warsteiner beer on tap, a choice of 300 fine wines, the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant and a sumptuous cigar lounge.

But the FA will bring its own team of chefs and dieticians to maximize the performance of a team widely considered to have the best chance of success in England since 1966.

Southgate and the team arrive eight days before their first match against Serbia on June 16.

Owner Grafe told The Sun: “The German team wanted to be based in my hotel but they are required to work with their Adidas sponsors so we are happy to welcome England instead.”

The German said his loyalties would be torn if the two countries met at the tournament.

But he added: “I’ve always said I’m only interested in having one team here: the team that wins euros – and I believe England will be that team.”

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GARY LINEKER was left fuming “you absolute w****r” after Micah Richards was forced to sell one of his own, Alan Shearer or Harry Kane.

The former England striker was pitted against friend and ex-Newcastle striker Shearer, as well as Bayern Munich star and Three Lions captain Kane.

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The hitmen are among the best strikers to ever play for their country.

Lineker scored 48 goals in 80 games for England between 1984 and 1992.

While Shearer scored 30 times in 63 games between 1992 and 2000.

Kane boasts an even better record than his predecessors, scoring 62 times in 89 games after his debut in 2015.

And the superstars faced off in the latest episode of The rest is football podcast.

Lineker and Shearer watched as fellow presenter Micah Richards was forced to choose which of them to sell, which to subsidize and which to buy.

Richards revealed that he would subsidize Kane and buy Shearer, leaving Lineker in the unfortunate position of being the one to sell.

But this led to a hilarious response from Lineker, who was unhappy with the outcome.

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Richards said: “Because I’ve never seen Gaz play, we’re selling Gaz.

‘Goodbye, all those records you broke, it’s a distant memory, it’s history.

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“Let’s go to the modern players, Kane, a more versatile, well-rounded, beautiful striker.

“Nice technique too, but I’m going to put him on the bench.

“Alan Shearer, the Geordie boys, we’re buying him!”

Shearer agreed: “You know class when you see class!”

But Lineker dismissed Richards, saying: “You are absolutely w****r!”

Richards replied: “Are you okay, Gaz?”

Lineker fired back with a vow: ‘I’m not talking to you! If you saw me play, you would buy me!”

MAINZ star Josuha Guilavogui thanked referee Patrick Ittrich for potentially saving his life after a horror collision on the pitch.

Guilavogui collided with his head on teammate Anthony Caci’s knee during Saturday’s match against Bayern Munich.

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The Frenchman remained motionless on the ground and appeared unconscious before Ittrich arrived and placed him in the recovery position.

The quick-thinking official Ittrich then adjusted his tongue so he could breathe again.

The incident took place after half an hour and Guilavogui was replaced by Edimilson Fernandes five minutes later.

And he expressed his gratitude to referee Ittrich on social media after the match.

He posted on X: “Thank you very much for the quick intervention and help provided, Patrick Ittrich, my teammates and the doctors in Mainz!”

Ittrich said: “You just have to act quickly, there is no praise for that.”

The match finished 8–1 to Mainz, with Harry Kane scoring three, but due to Bundesliga rules this did not count as a hat-trick.

For a ‘real hat-trick’ in German football you need to score three goals in the same half, all consecutively, without anyone else shooting in between.

With Kane scoring Bayern’s first, third and seventh, it unfortunately counts despite him taking the match ball home.

He posted after the match: “Perfect afternoon! Gotta keep this momentum going.”

The emphatic result brings the Bavarian players within seven points of leader Bayer Leverkusen.

And England captain Kane improved his sensational season tally to 36 goals in 34 games.

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KIERAN TRIPPIER revealed Harry Kane tried to convince him to sign for Bayern Munich in January.

Newcastle rejected a £12.5million bid from the German giants for the England right-back.

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Trippier, 33, admits the interest was ‘flattering’, with former Tottenham pal Kane telling him to leave the North East for Munich.

The Magpies captain said: ‘I was on holiday in New York and woke up at 5am to be told that Bayern Munich wanted to sign me.

“I thought, ‘This is a bit random.’ At 33, I never thought Bayern would want to sign me, so it was a bigger shock to me than anyone else.

“Harry [Kane] was texting of course, but it just wasn’t the right thing for me.

“He asked if it was true, told me it was warmer than Newcastle and joked a bit.

“But I have never tried to force a departure from the club. I have been loyal to Newcastle.”

Trippier will miss England’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium at Wembley this month due to a calf injury.

But he is still expected to be part of Gareth Southgate’s Euros squad.

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The 46-cap defender added: “We can’t be afraid to say we can win. We have an incredible team.”

Trippier was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup before suffering heartbreak in the 2021 European Championship final.

On whether this is a new Golden Generation with Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, he added: “Yes. It’s crazy because at the last World Cup compared to now all the young players came from nowhere.

“You see the level everyone is playing at now, so hopefully we can go one step further and win the tournament.”

HARRY KANE couldn’t hide his discomfort as Micah Richards hilariously accused the Bayern Munich star of “having a dodgy box”.

Kane, 30, left youth club Tottenham for the Bundesliga giants last summer.

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And his two goals against Lazio on Tuesday night helped the Bavarians to the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

After his brace, Kane joined the CBS team of Richards, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and host Kate Abdo via a live link from the Allianz Arena.

During the interview, the England captain thanked Henry for his kind words during the Frenchman’s appearance with Carra in Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football coverage of Arsenal’s 6-0 defeat to Sheffield United.

But that led to chaos in the studio.

Carragher responded to Kane’s comment: “Where was that? What was that on, Harry? What show was that?”

Kane responded, “That was Monday Night Football,” prompting huge cheers and laughter from the CBS panel.

Richards then said, “How do you get that in Germany anyway?”

Suddenly, Kane looked a little uncomfortable as he insisted, “Don’t worry, don’t worry about me.”

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Richards then let out an almighty noise as the rest erupted in even more hilarity.

The former Manchester City defender added: “Okay! I’m not accusing you of anything, I’m just saying I don’t think Sky Go is going to Germany.”

A jubilant Carragher joked to clarify Richard’s insinuation: “Harry has a dodgy box!”

The camera then cut back to a sheepish Kane playing with his hair and clearly unsure of what to say in response.

And the clip shared on social media sparked a brilliant response from fans.

One said: “Micah baits Kane because he has a dodgy box.”

Another wrote: “Lmfaoo Kane using a dodgy box is hilarious.”

A third joked: “If Harry Kane has a dodgy box… I’ll cancel my Sky Sports.”

And one end user commented: “Harry Kane admitting he has a dodgy box in Germany is too funny.”

Kane’s double came either side of a Thomas Müller goal as Bayern recovered from 1-0 down after the first leg to book their place in the last eight.

In the same CBS interview, the striker exposed Carragher’s lies by revealing that the former Liverpool defender had not called him this week.

His teammate Eric Dier also made headlines after the win thanks to his Steve McClaren accent.