England captain Harry Kane has spoken out about his disappointment with the number of players who have pulled out of the national team for their upcoming matches.
This week, nine players have dropped out of the England squad for the Nations League games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. These players include Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite was the latest player to withdraw on Wednesday.
Lee Carsley, who is leading the team for the last time before Thomas Tuchel becomes the new England manager, will now have to work with a much smaller group of players. Kane, however, is frustrated by the number of withdrawals, especially since he believes representing England should be a top priority for every player.
In an interview with ITV Sport, Harry Kane said,
“Gareth Southgate brought the joy back to playing for England. Every time we had a camp, the players were excited and wanted to play. That’s the most important thing.”
He continued,
“England comes before anything. It comes before your club. It’s the most important thing for a professional footballer. Gareth Southgate was always strict about this. He made sure no one forgot that.”
Kane also expressed concern that some players might be using international matches to rest before their club duties. He said,
“It’s a shame this week. It’s a tough time in the season, and maybe some players have taken advantage of that. Honestly, I don’t like it. England should come before anything, even club football.”
England will face Greece on Thursday and the Republic of Ireland on Monday night. Despite the absences, Kane hopes the remaining squad members will step up and show their commitment to the national team.
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🏴 'It's been taken advantage of, I don't like it!'💬 Harry Kane ahead of England's Nations League clash with Greece tomorrow— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 13, 2024
