Gary Neville demands more ‘energy, urgency and intensity’ from England’s supporting cast in bid to get the best out of Harry Kane at Euro 2020… with pundit claiming ANY striker in the world would have struggled against Scotland due to ‘massive’ drop-off
England must play with more intensity and more urgency if they are to unlock Harry Kane‘s potential at Euro 2020, according to Gary Neville.
Kane has failed to score in England’s opening two group matches and has found himself substituted off in both games following sub-par performances.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has already confirmed that Kane will start the final group game against the Czech Republic on Tuesday and to see an improved performance, Neville is convinced that it will hinge on the energy of the Tottenham striker’s supporting cast.
Harry Kane needs to be surrounded by more energy and urgency to allow him to thrive
That is the opinion of Gary Neville as he reflects on two less-than-impressive England games
‘I said last week I felt he was undroppable and I still maintain that,’ Neville said on Sky Sports News.
‘I think that if Harry Kane had someone behind him who was even close to him that could go into the team, then you’d say maybe you could look at a change. But you wouldn’t change Kane quickly, or easily for that matter.
‘I think he’ll break all England’s records. You don’t just drop your captain and your main goalscorer after two matches.
Neville feels supporting cast, such as Phil Foden (left) and Jadon Sancho (right), must step up
England head into the final game needing a victory to top Group D ahead of Czech Republic
‘But I think the energy, urgency and intensity in England’s performance has got to improve for Kane to do well in this tournament.’
Kane has had a long league season but looked to be heading into the tournament in fine form – only to find the international stage far more barren that at club level.
On Friday night against Scotland Kane had just 19 touches of the ball, of which four came inside the opposition box.
‘In the first game, we felt that was a controlled performance and everyone was really happy with that,’ Neville added.
‘But against Scotland, it was a massive drop off. I don’t care who you are – as a centre-forward, you would have struggled in that game.’
Misfiring Kane has failed to score at Euro 2020 yet and was taken off in the two group fixtures
In Kane’s Euros career he has managed just four shots on target but much like Neville, Southgate is refusing to pile in on a player he is adamant is ‘fundamental’ to the team.
‘He is fundamental, not only to the goals he scores but the build up play and everything else he brings,’ Southgate said.
‘I know there will be a lot of questions being asked about him at the moment but he has been through that 100 times before.
‘I have answered that in this role several times in the past and he has come up with the goals that have won us the next games and I expect that to be the same moving forward.’
