Harry Kane has found himself at the center of controversy after suggesting some of his England teammates may be exaggerating injuries to avoid playing in the upcoming international fixture against Greece.
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Speaking to ITV Sport, the England captain expressed frustration at the number of pullouts from Lee Carsley’s squad, which includes high-profile absentees like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and Cole Palmer. Since the squad was announced last week, eight players have withdrawn for various reasons, and one replacement, Jarrad Branthwaite, also left the squad due to injury.
Kane believes England should come before club commitments, hinting that some teammates might be using minor injuries as a chance to rest amid a grueling season. “England is the most important thing you play as a professional footballer, and Gareth [Southgate] was always clear about that,” Kane remarked, recalling the former manager’s strict approach to prioritizing national duty.
While Arsenal, in particular, has struggled with an injury-ridden season, Kane hinted that some players may be “taking advantage” of the timing, suggesting they’ve used minor injuries to gain extra rest. He added, “I think it’s a tough period of the season, and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit. I don’t really like it, if I’m totally honest.”
However, fans were quick to point out Kane’s own injury history and question his comments. Many referenced how Kane himself sat out March’s international games for an ankle injury but returned just in time for Bayern Munich’s Champions League fixture. “Where was Harry Kane during the March international break?” one Chelsea fan commented on social media platform X, pointing out the captain’s own absences in the past. Another fan added, “His heart is in the right place, but he must remember that he played injured during the Euros, and we all know how that went.”
Others defended players like Declan Rice, who has been playing through a toe injury, and Bukayo Saka, who had to leave Arsenal’s recent game against Chelsea after an injury. “Why should these players risk their seasons for a meaningless friendly?” a fan commented, highlighting the difficult balance between club and country commitments, especially in an intense, injury-ridden season.
Kane’s comments have sparked a broader debate about the physical toll on players and where their loyalties should lie, especially as England faces a lineup filled with new faces ahead of the Greece match tonight.
