Harry Kane has criticised England team-mates who pulled out of this week’s must-win clash in Greece and accused them of taking advantage of Thomas Tuchel’s wait to start as manager.
Interim coach Lee Carsley saw eight players withdraw from his squad before they flew out to Athens for a game England must win to avoid a Nations League promotion play-off in March when Tuchel starts his role.
Kane, in an interview with ITV on the eve of the fixture at the Olympic Stadium, pulled no punches with his disappointment at senior players withdrawing.
Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice were among the players who would have been competing for a starting place before pulling out earlier this week.
“It’s a shame this week,” Kane told ITV. “It’s a tough period of the season and maybe it’s been taken advantage of a little bit. I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think England comes before any club situation.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has recently spoken out over the relationship between clubs and England, suggesting that communication has broken down over the past years. He also revealed his surprise at Grealish being called up before withdrawing, having not played for city since October 20.
Kane also referenced Gareth Southgate’s eight years in charge of England when he changed the perception of England call-ups for players.
“I think the joy to play for England – he (Southgate) brought that back. Every camp people were excited to come and in camp people wanted to play for England,” Kane added.
“That is the most important thing. England comes before anything, it comes before club. It’s the most important thing you play as a professional footballer. Gareth was hot on that and not afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players.”
