Harry Kane insists he is no dive cheat after a number of controversial moments in the penalty area this season.
The England captain had to field questions following the awarding of his team’s second spotkick in the Three Lions’ 4-0 Euro2020 qualifying win over Bulgaria on Saturday.
The Tottenham star went down under minimal contact in the 73rd minute at Wembley before stepping up to fire home his hattrick goal.
Kane’s performance came amid a backdrop of claims he dived in an attempt to win penalties for Spurs in his two previous games against Arsenal and Newcastle.
GOES DOWN TOO EASILY: Spurs' Harry Kane against Arsenal. Photo: Matthew Childs/Reuters.
But the striker denies that he is a serial play-actor, saying: “I’ve never felt like I needed to apologise for diving, and hopefully I don’t have to.
“I said after the Newcastle game it’s a clear penalty from my point of view.
“I said after the Arsenal game it’s a 50/50 one, similar to one we got given against us at Wembley the year before.
An impressive England hat-trick for Harry Kane on Saturday 👌
— Goal (@goal) September 10, 2019
More goals to come against Kosovo tonight? 🤔pic.twitter.com/RRqBxDm9TL
“It happens in football.”
Ahead of Tuesday's home Group A qualifier against Kosovo at 8.45pm, he adds: “I am someone who uses his body well which as a striker you have to do at every level.
“On the half-way line it’s [the Arsenal incident] a free kick every day of the week. In the penalty box you don’t always get it.
“People’s opinions are their opinions. I wasn’t concentrating on that sort of stuff. For me, it’s about doing my best on the pitch and the most important thing is about winning games.”