Harry Kane urges former England stars to be 'helpful' after Gary Lineker brands Euro 2024 performance 's***'
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Updated 23/06/2024 at 22:00 GMT
Harry Kane appeared in front of the press on Sunday to take questions from reporters ahead of England's final Euro 2024 Group C game against Slovenia. Much of the fallout from the Three Lions' disappointing draw with Denmark focused on Kane's fitness levels, but the skipper rebuffed those claims, and also called on England's ex-players to be more "helpful" with their commentary.
Kane suggests critical ex-player pundits could take a 'step back'
Harry Kane has called on former England players to be more "helpful" in their comments towards the team after a fierce backlash to the 1-1 draw against Denmark.
Gareth Southgate's men have laboured through Euro 2024 so far, with an uninspiring display in Frankfurt met with criticism from many in the game, most notably the likes of ex-Three Lions forwards Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.
Kane was asked about Lineker's comments ahead of England's final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday, after the latter had branded the most recent performance "s***".
"I'd never want to be disrespectful to any player, especially a player who's worn the shirt and knows what it's like to play for England," said Kane, who opened the scoring but was substituted in the second half.
"Maybe ex-players or ex-players who are pundits now have got to realise that it's very hard not to listen to it [what they say] now, especially for some players who are not used to it or some players who are new to the environment.
"So I always feel like they [former players and pundits] have a responsibility.
"I know they've got to be honest and give their opinion, but also they have a responsibility of being 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.
"Everyone's got their opinion but the bottom line is, we haven't won anything as a nation for a long, long time.
"And a lot of these players were part of that as well, and they know how tough it is.
"It's not digging anyone out, but it's just the reality that they do know that it's tough to play in these major tournaments, and tough to play for England.
"I'd never disrespect any ex-player, all I'd say is just remember what it was like to wear this shirt, and that their words are listened to.
"Some of the lads, I don't know how many of the lads, but do you do hear it.
"We all want to win a major tournament, I'm sure they want us to win a major tournament.
"Being as helpful as they can and building the lads up with confidence would be a much better way of going about it."
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A chance to change the mood is around the corner though, with Slovenia the next opponents in Cologne on Tuesday as Group C comes to a close ahead of the knockout stages.
And Kane insisted he is feeling "100%" fit as England look to top the group and secure a favourable last-16 clash.
Addressing questions around his fitness, Kane began: "I spoke before the tournament and we said about the preparation leading up to it, I thought was pretty good for me personally.
"And even the games in the tournament, the first game, I felt as fit as I have all season and, of course, I know I came off [the pitch] in the second game, but that was down to the manager wanting to maybe freshen up the front players especially.
"So, from my point of view, I'm fit, getting better and better with each game and fitter with each game.
"I spoke in previous tournaments about the same thing, about trying to make sure you're coming into your peak towards the most important part of the tournament, which is the knockouts.
"As always, time will tell, if we get knocked out then of course, there'll be a lot of questions asked.
"But I think from my point of view it's important that going into this knockout stage you're feeling 100%, and I feel I'm there."
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