In the aftermath of a disappointing draw against Denmark, England captain Harry Kane took the initiative to organize a private meeting with his teammates. The meeting, held without the presence of the coaching staff, aimed to foster unity and address internal issues within the squad.
According to the Daily Mail, the players-only meeting was convened to discuss tactical approaches, preferred playing positions, and other differences that might be affecting team performance. “No one from the coaching staff was invited to the discussion. It was solely the players. They talked about how they played, the positions they wanted to play, and the differences among them. Harry Kane wanted to build unity after England’s difficult start at EURO 2024,” the Daily Mail reported.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, acknowledged concerns about Harry Kane’s leadership but supported the captain’s decision to hold the meeting. Kane emphasized the importance of reminding his teammates of their value and urged them to stand together in the face of public criticism and pressure.
This approach mirrors a similar tactic adopted by the Ukraine team after their loss to Romania. The Ukrainian players requested a private meeting with their coach, Serhiy Rebrov, to discuss internal issues, which led to a positive outcome as they went on to beat Slovakia 2-1, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
England faced heavy criticism following the draw with Denmark, but they remain in a favorable position, leading their group with 4 points. A single point in their final match will secure one of the top two spots in the group, ensuring their progression to the next stage.
Many pundits and former England players have voiced their criticism of Gareth Southgate. Jamie Carragher, in a lengthy article for the Telegraph, stated, “It’s time to be ruthless, Southgate. You need to choose what’s best for the team, not just the best players.” Carragher highlighted the issues with Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold, suggesting that Foden’s role overlaps with those of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, while Alexander-Arnold has struggled in central midfield.
Carragher proposed alternatives like Wharton, Mainoo, or Gallagher to replace Alexander-Arnold and suggested Anthony Gordon as a replacement for Foden. The Daily Mail also pointed out the lack of leadership in the current squad compared to previous tournaments, with former leaders like Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson absent from the EURO 2024 lineup.
Kyle Walker has been added to the leadership group, and while Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice show leadership potential, they are still considered inexperienced and in need of further development.
As England prepares for their crucial final group match, the players’ meeting led by Harry Kane might be the catalyst needed to unify the squad and improve their performance moving forward in EURO 2024.
