Harry Kane has vowed England will tackle the World Cup “head on” as the national side’s new captain seeks to break his goalscoring duck at major tournaments.

Gareth Southgate’s squad depart on Tuesday for their base in Repino, on the Gulf of Finland near St Petersburg, eager to make a mark in Russia. Kane failed to register under Roy Hodgson at Euro 2016, or at the Under-21s European Championship the previous summer, but is confident he will thrive at the head of a vibrant, attack-minded group.

“The aim is to be aggressive and brave in possession,” Kane said. “That’s what we are trying to instil into the team. We want to take this tournament head on. There will be tough moments, and ups and downs. Sometimes going into a big tournament is about not losing and being passive but, for us, it’s about playing attacking football. We are aiming to win the first game, then to target the second, and take that attitude to the World Cup.

The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email.

“Personally, that [scoring] record is something I want to change, and hopefully will this summer. I’ve always felt you go through spells: the ball goes in sometimes and other times it doesn’t, like in August every year for me. That’s part of the game. But I always look at my game and see how I can get better, so that’s making an impact in big tournaments. Obviously that’s only one senior finals for me so far, but there is the under-21s as well. But I want to score in tournament football and that’s what I will try to do.”

Kane had featured in Nice when England departed Euro 2016 in ignominious fashion to Iceland, but he senses memories of that desperate occasion will not haunt those survivors from Hodgson’s squad who are travelling to Russia. “It was a down, a bad moment for us, and I’m confident it won’t happen,” he said. “I won’t say 100% it won’t happen because you never know in football, but in this team we wear our heart on our sleeves. We are proud to be here, we will work hard, be energetic.

England have won back the fans’ confidence, claims Gareth Southgate Read more

“We have a lot of attacking flair, too, who can do some damage. We are young and inexperienced so it is a good thing to go out there and be free and hungry to prove ourselves on the biggest stage.

“It is hard to look beyond the World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world. It is the one competition everybody dreams of winning. Obviously I understand you’ve got the Champions League and Premier League – so many big competitions – every season. But, for me, I don’t think it gets much bigger than the World Cup.

“I would love to win everything with Tottenham but, for me personally, the World Cup outweighs them all,” Kane added.

“I am proud to be English and I would do anything for my country. Football plays such a big part in that, so to make the fans proud and country proud would be an incredible feeling. We feel we can do that. All we can do is fight on the pitch and give 100% in every game and wear that badge with pride. I am sure the country will take to that.”