Harry Kane Criticizes England Teammates for Prioritizing Club Over Country
England captain Harry Kane has expressed his disappointment over the absence of several key players from the national team's upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. Notably, Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden have withdrawn from the squad, citing various reasons.
In an interview with the ITV Sport, Kane emphasized the paramount importance of representing the national team over club commitments:
"I think England comes before anything. England comes before club. England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer and Gareth [Southgate] was hot on that and he wasn't afraid to make decisions if, you know, that started to drift from certain players."
Kane's comments reflect a growing concern about player commitment to international duty, especially during crucial fixtures like the Nations League. The absence of these players poses a significant challenge for interim manager Lee Carsley as England prepares for matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.