‘In all honesty’ – Gary Lineker gives brutal Harry Kane review after ‘lethargic’ Denmark display
Gary Lineker Criticizes Harry Kane After England’s Lackluster Draw Against Denmark
England’s recent 1-1 draw with Denmark at Euro 2024 has sparked significant frustration, particularly directed at Harry Kane. Gary Lineker, former England striker, harshly critiqued Kane’s performance, expressing his disappointment on BBC Match of the Day’s live coverage.
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Kane, who opened the scoring for England with a composed finish, was later criticized for his overall performance. Despite giving England an early lead, the team failed to maintain control and eventually settled for a draw, leaving fans and analysts disappointed.
Lineker did not hold back in his evaluation of Kane, emphasizing the lack of movement and energy in his play. “In all honesty, I think Harry Kane needs to do a lot better. His movement was minimal; he didn’t look to go behind, and even when he comes short, he’s just drifting short, very lethargically. That’s not going to help,” Lineker stated.
He elaborated on the responsibilities of a striker, pointing out that while Kane is exceptional at scoring goals, he needs to offer more in terms of movement and creating space. “When you’re a striker, your two jobs are: obviously score goals, which he’s brilliant at, but I think he needs his manager to say, ‘I need a little bit more from you, Harry.’ If I’d had that kind of performance, I would have expected that,” Lineker added.
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Lineker explained that Kane’s approach against Denmark’s three-man defense was ineffective. He emphasized the importance of making dynamic movements to stretch the opposing defense, which Kane failed to do. “He’s up against three at the back, so he has got to stretch that team. Even when he comes short, you’ve got to go that way [leans right] first to keep them up there, and then you come short. He ambles in, and they just let him go, so he doesn’t get it. He’s not creating the space for himself for a start,” Lineker explained.
He also noted the lack of support from the midfield, which exacerbated the issue. “In his defense, even when that happened on occasions, there wasn’t enough of the midfield pushing up from behind. So it’s a whole team thing,” he concluded.
Kane’s performance has been under scrutiny, especially following his minimal impact against Serbia, where he managed only two touches in the entire first half. Former England defender Wes Brown and ex-international Alan Shearer echoed similar sentiments about Kane’s current form and playing style. Shearer highlighted the need for pace around Kane, stating, “As I got older, I needed pace in and around me. Harry Kane is the same now; he needs players that have the legs to run beyond and make the space.”
Despite remaining top of Group C, England’s failure to secure qualification for the Round of 16 ahead of schedule adds pressure on their next match against Slovenia. The draw against Denmark, coupled with Slovenia and Serbia sharing points, means England must fight to secure first place in their final group stage match.
This analysis from Lineker and other pundits underscores the challenges facing England and Harry Kane as they navigate the remainder of the tournament. The team’s ability to adapt and address these issues will be crucial in their quest for Euro 2024 success.