‘I don’t really like it’
ATHENS — Harry Kane has accused some of his England teammates of “taking advantage” of Thomas Tuchel’s delayed start as he criticised the raft of withdrawals from this week’s Nations League games.
Eight players named in Lee Carsley’s initial squad were missing from the squad that flew to Athens for a game England need to win to top their Nations League group and retain a chance of automatic promotion back to the top tier of the competition.
And England captain Kane told broadcaster ITV that he believed some had “taken advantage” of a tough period in the season, suggesting country “should come first”.
Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Bukayo Saka, Levi Colwill, Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice all withdrew on Monday, prompting call-ups for uncapped duo Tino Livramento and Morgan Rogers.
Jarrad Branthwaite became the ninth player to withdraw from the group as he returned to Everton after missing training since reporting for duty. England drafted Jarell Quansah into the travelling party instead.
“It’s a shame this week obviously. Yeah, look, I think it’s a tough period of the season and, yeah, maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit,” Kane said.
“I don’t really like it if I’m totally honest. I think, like I just said there, England comes before anything, any club situation.”
It adds to an uneasy feeling around the camp as England await Tuchel’s start date on 1 January, with some critics suggesting he should have started sooner.
“I think the joy to play for England. I think he brought that back,” Kane added.
“I think every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and, yeah, that’s the most important thing.
“I think England comes before anything. England comes before club. England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth was hot on that and he wasn’t afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players.”
