BBC presenter Gary Lineker pointed a finger of blame at England captain Harry Kane for his lack of pressing intensity during first half against Denmark
Harry Kane may have put England in front against Denmark with a calm left-footed finish but Gary Lineker has laid the blame for the team’s stodgy first half down to the captain.
The Match of the Day host questioned the workload of Kane off the ball, suggesting “he has barely moved” while highlighting the Bayern Munich star’s lack of pressing intensity. Kane would end up being replaced by Ollie Watkins with more than 20 minutes of the game remaining.
And Lineker was backed up by two of three pundits in studio after analysing why England dropped so deep after conceding to Morten Hjulmand’s long-range equaliser, which crept into the right corner of Jordan Pickford’s goal.
“Can I offer a slight theory? If you want to press, it has to come from your centre forward first,” Lineker said.
“Harry does not press and he has not pressed in that first half. He’s barely moved. Then the team goes deeper and Harry Kane goes even deeper and even when you get the ball you have nothing to hit. I just don’t understand.”
In response Micah Richards said: “There’s a conundrum with how England want to set up. They want to press and have got the players to press. But Harry Kane is so good at scoring goals and his record is unbelievable. When his goal comes, you think, ‘OK, Harry Kane is confident.
“But the other side of the game, he just needs to improve. When you’re talking about goals, he’s one of the best.”
And Rio Ferdinand agreed, adding: “I would be going mad. I’d be screaming at him. I couldn’t have my centre forward not filling in with the workload the other players are putting. I need to see that intensity. Put their centre halves under pressure as I’m feeling as an England defender.”
Beating Denmark would have sealed top spot in Group C and ensured an easier round of 16 draw. England must still face Slovenia on Tuesday night.
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