England captain and record goalscorer, Harry Kane, has expressed his disappointment over the increasing number of player withdrawals from the national team. He emphasized that representing one's country should always take precedence over club commitments. His comments come in light of several players opting out of Lee Carsley’s final camp as interim head coach.
Kane has been a stalwart for England throughout his career, never shying away from international duty even amidst injury or fatigue. He voiced concern over what he perceives as a diminishing sense of pride in wearing the England shirt since Gareth Southgate's departure in July.
The captain questioned whether some players were using the congested football calendar as an excuse to withdraw from national duties. "Are players absent due to a ‘tough period’?" he asked rhetorically.
Harry Kane, England captain, said:
“The joy to play for England – he brought that back, Every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England. That’s the most important thing. England comes before anything. England comes before club. England, it’s is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer. Gareth was hot on that.
“He wasn’t afraid to make decisions if that started to drift from certain players. It’s a shame this week. Obviously it’s a tough period of the season. Maybe there’s been a little taking advantage of that. I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. England comes before anything, before any club situation.”
Impact on England’s National Team
Southgate was known for fostering an enjoyable team environment and emphasizing the importance of squad participation. However, with Thomas Tuchel not set to take over until next year, there seems to be a lack of enthusiasm surrounding this week’s Nations League fixtures against Greece and Ireland.
Carsley has seen nine players withdraw from his final squad – while some are genuinely injured, others stand accused of exploiting the situation. This mass withdrawal is feared to have eroded the culture Southgate worked hard to establish.
Eight players have withdrawn from these two games alone - a fact that clearly frustrates Kane who believes it could negatively impact team performance and morale.
Optimism for future under Tuchel
Despite his criticisms about player commitment levels under Carsley’s interim leadership, Kane expressed optimism about Thomas Tuchel taking charge in January. The striker praised Tuchel's 'amazing brain' indicating high hopes for future success under new management.
While Kane's frustration over player withdrawals is clear, his optimism for the future under Tuchel's leadership offers a ray of hope for England fans. It remains to be seen whether Tuchel can reignite the sense of pride in representing England and restore the team culture that seems to have waned since Southgate’s departure.
