Harry Kane led an emergency players’ only meeting with his England teammates the morning after their woeful draw with Denmark.
Reports claim the captain mustered his teammates for talks without coaches the morning after the 1-1 draw, which was branded by some as the team’s worst performance of Gareth Southgate’s reign.
While England remain at the top of Group C with four points, fans, pundits and leading members of the press have been alarmed with the Three Lions’ disjointed displays so far at Euro 2024.
Southgate’s self-confessed Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘experiment’ in midfield is not working, while his decision to take injured Luke Shaw as his only left-back, leaving right-footed Kieran Trippier to fill in on the left flank, has backfired badly with the Manchester United defender still yet to train with the rest of the squad.
The manager’s team selections have left the team imbalanced on the pitch, with England lacking width and questions over how to fit Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham in the same team effectively.
While players have attempted to quash the unrest outside of the camp, it appears there were still things to thrash out between the group as captain Kane arranged a meeting with the rest of the squad.
According to a report by The Sun, Kane summoned the England players on Friday, the morning after the Denmark draw, for a call to arms ahead of Tuesday’s final group stage clash against Slovenia in Cologne – LIVE on talkSPORT.
It is said the meeting was used to resolve any differences between the players over their performances so far in Germany and bring the squad closer together as the tournament approached the knockout stages.
England only need a point against Slovenia to reach the last-16. They could progress even if they lose, should Denmark fail to beat Serbia in the other group tie, but anything less than a win will only intensify the spotlight and pressure currently on the players.
And even then, another unconvincing performance will likely see the wolves come out again.
The report added that Kane gave a ‘rousing speech’ to his teammates, as England aim to show the rest of the competition why they were regarded as one of the tournament favourites before play started.
For many, the blame lies solely at Southgate’s door for his negative tactics and confusing set-up which has so far failed to get the best of the world-class talent in his squad.
“I was bored,” World Cup and European Championship winner Emmanual Petit told talkSPORT after the Denmark performance.
“I didn’t understand what was going on on the pitch. I think Southgate has a big responsibility for that.
“When I watched the game I had no idea what the plan was. I had no idea what they wanted to do with and without the ball. Tactically, the balance is not right.
“I was very surprised, very disappointed and very bored to watch so I can imagine it was boring for the players to play that game.
“England needs to change the starting eleven and the tactics. I don’t recognise Declan Rice, Harry Kane is a victim of how the team is playing and Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield is not working. There are so many questions without answers.”
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