Football News: Kane Hits Back at Lineker, Calls for Responsible Punditry Ahead of Euro 2024
Harry Kane, the captain of the England national football team, has hit back at former player and current BBC anchor Gary Lineker for his harsh criticism of the team’s performance against Denmark in the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament. In a candid interview, Kane emphasized the need for pundits and former players to show more responsibility and remember their own struggles wearing the England shirt.
Lineker’s Criticism and Other Pundits’ Assessments
Lineker, who is leading the BBC’s coverage of Euro 2024, caused a stir within the England camp after describing the team’s performance against Denmark as “shit” on the podcast “The Rest is Football.” Other high-profile pundits, such as Alan Shearer and Rio Ferdinand, have also delivered scathing assessments of Gareth Southgate’s side, who are set to face Slovenia in their final Group C match on Tuesday.
Kane’s Response and Call for Responsible Punditry
Kane, who was singled out by Lineker for his struggle against Denmark and Serbia, spoke up for the squad and urged the former professionals to consider the impact of their words on younger players.
“What ex-players have to realise is that it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or who are new to the environment,” Kane said. “I always feel like they have a responsibility. I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion, but they also have a responsibility as an ex-England player that a lot of players looked up to. People do care about what they say and people do listen to them.”
The England captain reminded the pundits that they too were part of the nation’s failures at previous tournaments, and urged them to be more supportive and build up the players’ confidence rather than criticize them.
“Everyone has got their opinion, but the bottom line is we have not won anything as a nation for a long, long time, and a lot of these players were part of that as well, so they know how tough it is,” Kane said. “It is not digging anyone out. It is just the reality that they know that it is tough to play in these major tournaments and tough to play for England.”
England’s Upcoming Match and Potential Tactical Changes
As England prepare for their crucial match against Slovenia, Kane expressed confidence in the team’s ability to improve and progress to the round of 16 as group winners. Southgate is expected to make some tactical tweaks, with Trent Alexander-Arnold potentially dropping out in midfield and Anthony Gordon in contention to replace Phil Foden on the left.
The ongoing debate over the role of pundits and former players in shaping the narrative around the national team’s performance has added an extra layer of intrigue to England’s journey at Euro 2024. Kane’s call for responsible and supportive punditry will be closely watched as the tournament progresses.
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