Gary Neville has firmly insisted that Harry Kane should start for England in the Euro 2024 final. Despite fitness concerns and strong competition from Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney.
Neville acknowledges that Kane has been performing “below his best in this tournament.” But emphasizes that Kane deserves to start the final due to his status as “the greatest England player ever.” He argues that Watkins and Toney could make a more significant impact as substitutes.
Kane, who shares the top scorer spot of the tournament with three goals alongside Dani Olmo, Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo, Georges Mikautadze, and Ivan Schranz, has seemed off the pace. He has been substituted in four of England’s six matches while the team was seeking a winner. Watkins’ spectacular goal off the bench against the Netherlands has sparked calls for him to start the final against Spain. Especially given the uncertainties surrounding Kane’s fitness. However, Neville remains steadfast in his support for the England captain.
“I spoke to Wayne Rooney four or five weeks ago before the tournament started and he said Harry Kane is the greatest England player ever,” Neville told Sky Sports News. “That is massive praise from someone who has been around the block with England in Rooney. I wouldn’t fight to disagree with him either. Harry Kane has been absolutely sensational. I always called him gold when he was at Tottenham, you just know full well that he’s going to deliver for you. He’s a solid character.”
Neville continues, “I think he’s obviously below his best in this tournament. There appears to be a suggestion that he is carrying an injury, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it came out in a week or two that he has been dealing with issues during the tournament that he’s trying to manage with bandages. You look at that [knockout] record now and some of the greatest goalscorers of all time are on that list. Obviously Kylian Mbappe (who has eight knockout goals) is seen as the best player in the world right now.”
Neville is confident that Southgate will not drop Kane, stating, “Harry Kane is someone who, ultimately at this moment in time, Gareth Southgate will not drop.” I know there is a sense that people think we are better without him. But it wouldn’t send a great message to the squad internally. He’s very clearly their leader and Southgate has full, total faith in him. And I also think if you’re the opposition team, he is England’s talisman. He’s the man who has gone over to Germany this year and has ripped it up from a goalscoring perspective.”
Neville concludes, “So I think the Spanish team on Sunday, who are a fantastic team. Are looking at our teamsheet and thinking that Kane is going to start. And in previous games, with Ivan Toney and what Ollie Watkins did, we’ve got brilliant players to come off the bench and be able to disrupt a game that is not going well for England.”
As England prepares for the final, Neville’s strong support for Kane highlights the striker’s importance to the team and his potential impact on the match against Spain.
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