Euro 2024: Harry Kane defends England performance after goalless stalemate with Slovenia - 'We played a lot better'

Harry Kane admits England will have to improve to enjoy a deep run at Euro 2024, but defended their performance in a 0-0 draw with Slovenia.

The stalemate was enough to secure top spot in the group for the Three Lions, who picked up five points from their three matches.

However, they managed only four shots on target against their lesser-fancied opponents, leading some fans to reportedly boo the team off in Cologne.

Captain Kane, though, was keen to stress that England have achieved their first mission.

"That was the aim before the start of the tournament, to come top of the group," he told ITV.

"Tonight was a tough game. We played a lot better than the other two games. There was a lot more energy, a lot better on the ball.

"We just couldn't find that final pass or that final finish.

"But look, it's tough games. All these games are going to be difficult now.

"We recover well, we enjoy that we're top of the group and then we look forward to the next one."

England did improve after half-time, when their substitutes started to have an impact on the game.

Kobbie Mainoo replaced Conor Gallagher at the break, while Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer were introduced as the game progressed.

The latter had his side's best chance of the night, failing to round off a rapid counter-attack with a low shot that was too close to the goalkeeper.

That incisiveness provides hope going forward, but Kane admits it was missing for the rest of the game.

"[It was] just that final quality, that final pass, that final finish or the cross," he continued.

"We just didn't quite have it there today, but we created some half chances and we had one towards the end that we could maybe have done better with.

"Overall, they defended well and they made it hard for us.

"The boys who came on did really well. They kept the energy high and brought a different type of dimension to the game.

"That's what we need. We need all the players chipping in when they get minutes. That's what they've done so far."

Despite their disappointing displays, England do progress as group winners, and as uninspiring as they may have been, the Three Lions remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Indeed, they have not lost over 90 minutes in any of their last nine European Championship matches, a run that dates back to the harrowing 2-1 last-16 defeat to Iceland in 2016.

Under Southgate's guidance, they reached the final before losing on penalties to Italy at Wembley three years ago.

Kane hopes that experience will stand them in good stead going forward.

"These games are tough, these games are really, really tough," he concluded.

"We've been here before. We've been into the knockouts and we've stepped it up in the knockouts, when we've got there in the past tournaments.

"Hopefully we can do the same, but whoever we get in the next round now, it's going to be another difficult game.

"It might take extra-time, it might take penalties, that's the reality of this tournament.

"It's going to be a difficult challenge ahead, but we have more than enough ability in this team to keep pushing and we just look forward to the next round now."

This performance came on the back of criticism of the England team for the way they played in their opening two group matches.

Kane was amongst those in the squad to speak out against comments from former players, who were left uninspired by how Gareth Southgate's side have performed.

Defender John Stones admits he gets why some supporters and pundits feel unsatisfied with what they have seen so far.

"I think we all wanted to win but the objective was to top the group and we have done that so I am extremely pleased," he told ITV.
"It is not always going to be an easy road, it is not always going to be easy when we have got a target on our backs to beat us.
"Two clean sheets out of three, a great positive for us to take away into the next stage.
"I thought there was a lot of improvement from the other two games, we tried to play more free-flowing football and I think we did that.
"We found people in the pockets and created more chances.
"I believe it is another step in the right direction, I can understand some of the fans' frustration, with us not scoring or taking chances.
"That is football, we left everything out there and it is never an easy game."

The defender was playing in his 22nd consecutive game at an international tournament - a new joint record for England, alongside Ashley Cole and Jordan Pickford.

He therefore knows a thing or two about coming good at the right time, and insists the Three Lions are not far away from getting things right.
"Very [close to clicking]," he added. "I think we have got to focus on us and what we can control and that is being harsh with ourselves over the next few days.
"I think it was a step in the right direction, not the result that we wanted, but I am so pleased we topped the group.
"We have topped the group and I am a big believer in beating the team in front of us, whoever we play we have got to believe now and keep moving forward and step up when it counts."

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