ITV pundits Graeme Souness and Roy Keane have questioned Harry Kane‘s fitness and focus following the England captain’s sub-par display against Scotland.
The 27-year-old is yet to score at Euro 2020 and was hauled off after 74 minutes at Wembley as England struggled to make a breakthrough.
There has been speculation over Kane’s club future following reports he has requested to leave Tottenham with Souness and Keane questioning whether that has started to have an impact on his England form.
“Harry doesn’t look himself, he looks jaded, he looks tired and this is a guy looking to get a big move this summer,” Souness said.
“He needs to waken himself up. He came off in the first game, is he carrying something? He looks a shadow of himself.”
Keane echoed Souness’ comments and explained why he was “glad” England manager Gareth Southgate chose to substitute him.
“Before the competition, there was all talk he might be leaving Spurs and maybe he has been distracted by that because that can be an energy-sapper if you think you’re moving club or you’re in talks with other clubs – that is not helpful,” the former Republic of Ireland captain said.
“If England really want to compete in this competition, you need your star men to perform.
“We have seen Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne turn up, Cristiano Ronaldo… they need Kane at his best and I am glad Gareth took him off.
“There is this talk about he is undroppable, he’s the main man, if he is not performing you get him off.”
ITV’s other pundits questioned Southgate’s tactics and pointed to the lack of service Kane received.
Ian Wright, who scored nine goals in 33 appearances for England, admitted: “The substitutions confuse me. I don’t know what to think with that.
“What’s he take Foden off for? There is no way Phil Foden should be leaving the pitch today, for me. It’s very disappointing to see.
“You have someone like Jadon Sancho on the bench, 16 goals and 20 assists this season, and he doesn’t even get on when we need to create.
“We can talk about Harry Kane and the chances he could have had or the touches he hasn’t had, but did we really create enough? We’re meant to be favourites to win this tournament and I was embarrassed for us today.”
Gary Neville questioned whether the occasion was “too big” for the youngest ever England line-up at a major tournament.
“It was a really poor performance, a massive disappointment, underpinned by poor physical levels,” said the former Three Lions full-back.
“Is it too big for them in terms of expectation? A few of those lads, it’s probably the biggest game they’ve played in, all the media leading up to the game… sometimes it can just mentally take it out of you.
“That was such a lacklustre display in such a big game.”
Former Scotland captain Scott Brown, on pitchside duty alongside Neville, added: “Scotland worked hard for each other as a proper team and they frustrated England.
“England looked leggy, they struggled to break through the lines, but that was due to Steve Clarke’s formation, he got his tactics spot-on.”
Additional reporting by Press Association
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from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3vEtXsl
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