Should England captain be dropped for Euro 2024 finals?

Harry Kane’s desire to prove people wrong has been well documented throughout his career.

Originally – and somewhat hilariously in retrospect – regarded as a ‘one-season wonder’ after breaking through at Tottenham Hotspur, the England captain is now renowned as one of the greatest goalscorers of his generation and was a key figure in the most successful three. Lions team of modern times.

However, criticism only falls on a handful of players in the current era and Kane is no exception. Despite scoring a combined three goals at Euro 2024, his displays for a largely spongy England side have been questioned and Ollie Watkins’ memorable winner against Holland in the semi-final saw some fans calling for a change in the final on Sunday against Spain. .

So should manager Gareth Southgate stick with the greatest male finisher in the country’s history or switch gears in his bid to win England’s second major piece of international silverware?

Whenever England perform poorly in international tournaments, fans and the media are quick to create scapegoats. That’s how it was in the past and at Euro 2024.

The 30-year-old is not the only Three Lions star whose starting role is in question. Debate over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role earlier in the tournament called into question the defensive spirit of the Liverpool star, while Phil Foden looked like a square peg in a round hole playing wide.

Criticism of Kane included a suggested lack of good positioning and anticipation from crosses, while his fitness was also questioned. His penchant for dropping deep has not gone down well with many supporters keen for the former Spurs star to stay in the final third and finish off chances.

But like it or not, the England captain continues to score when it counts; his efforts so far at Euro 2024 only attest to that.

The Three Lions could have slumped to a worse result in their 1-1 draw with Denmark had Kane not opened the scoring early on, while his winner against Slovakia eventually secured their place in the quarter-finals final after Jude Bellingham broke the internet with his latest… gasp overhead kick.

His keen tournament knowledge was also clear to see against Holland. Kane bought a penalty with a call that many thought would be quickly waved away by the video assistant referee and was composed enough to nod home a shot into the bottom corner to equalize after Xavi Simons’ stunner. It was his 22nd successful penalty in 26 attempts, showing the ice that runs through his veins when it counts.

He got it wrong in the World Cup quarter-final against France just under two years ago, but this Sunday gives Kane the opportunity to do what he loves best; prove the doubters wrong.

With 66 goals at senior international level, Kane is comfortably England’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer but is still searching, perhaps somewhat strangely, for a moment to really endear himself to his country.

With a record like that behind him, Kane should never be dropped. It may not be firing on all cylinders at the moment, but tournament football is a different beast. After a slow start to Euro 2020, his goals in the knockout stages eventually led England to the final and it was a similar story this time around.

His appetite, the selfishness required as a striker and his exceptional record means he is a guaranteed starter against Spain. With the opportunity to write a new narrative himself and dispel lingering naysayers, Kane will be excited, and it’s just too much of a risk to start someone with less-than-honed finishing skills when the stakes are so high. great and the opposition so good.

That’s not to say backup options Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney don’t have their strengths.

Watkins’ goal-winning cameo against the Dutch was spot-on, relentlessly harassing opposition defenders and proving too quick for Stefan de Vrij as he struck one of England’s most iconic strikes at the Euros.

Toney has also shown his quality in troubling defenders when called upon and is one of a number of clinical penalties Southgate can call upon if the final goes 120 minutes without a decisive goal.

Their current roles are perfect. Watkins will provide a boost to his pressing if he comes on with England chasing a goal, while Toney will be an awkward presence for the Spanish defense to deal with if he gets the nod at any time.

The two Premier League strikers are huge players and would undoubtedly get more minutes if they were playing for other nations, but both have taken on their squad roles with aplomb. They give Southgate real points of difference if the manager needs them.

Either Watkins or Toney could end up being England’s hero on Sunday, but if a match-winning opportunity fell to any player in the squad, most fans would want Kane to be on the end and hence his inclusion in the starting line-up. XI is so imperative.

READ MORE OF THE LATEST ENGLAND NEWS, QUOTES AND MATCH PREDICTIONS