Kane walked out at the Allianz Arena to a guard of honour from his team-mates before kick-off. Then he sat down on the bench and stayed there for the full 90 minutes, as Bayern eased into the German Cup last 16 without needing their newly crowned best player in the world.
“I didn’t party too hard!” the England captain told Goal after the final whistle, before explaining that the rest had been pencilled in well before he flew to the ceremony.
A rest planned before the Ballon d’Or
The decision came from assistant coach Aaron Danks, who told Kane during the build-up that six weeks of relentless fixtures made a sit-out sensible, regardless of what happened in London on Monday. Kane said he had been fit to play if asked, but accepted the staff’s call.
Danks used his post-match slot to turn the spotlight back on the man watching from the dugout.
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“Working closely with him and seeing the effort he puts in, knowing the journey that he’s been on to get to this moment, just really, really happy for him. As an Englishman, I’m really proud for him,” the assistant told reporters.
Kompany still away from the touchline
Danks is on the bench because Vincent Kompany is not. The Belgian head coach was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after a meningeal irritation caused him to collapse at a reserve-team training session the previous Friday, Sky Sports reported. No date has been set for his return to work, with sporting director Max Eberl saying Kompany will only resume duties once doctors clear him.
Olise does the heavy lifting
Michael Olise made the night his own. The France winger opened the scoring in the 10th minute, teed up Ismael Saibari six minutes later, and chipped a penalty past the Magdeburg goalkeeper on 50 minutes after Alphonso Davies was fouled in the box, according to beIN Sports’ match report.
Davies then got on the scoresheet himself, with Nathaniel Brown and David Santos Daiber adding further goals. Magdeburg pulled one back in the first half but were overrun in the second.
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The win carries the holders into the Round of 16, with the draw to follow in the coming days.
England’s first Ballon d’Or in a quarter of a century
Monday’s ceremony ended a 25-year wait for English football. Kane is the first player from England to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
Up next is a Bundesliga trip to Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.
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