Gary Lineker defends BBC stance on England and Kane

Gary Lineker has defended his, and nan BBC’s, perceived disapproval of England’s early performances astatine Euro 2024 and admitted he “can’t win”.

Lineker was accused of describing England’s show against Denmark successful nan group stages arsenic s***, though he later clarified he was referring to nan crippled arsenic a whole.

That sentiment was put to Three Lions skipper Harry Kane astatine a property convention pinch nan Bayern Munich striker saying he felt erstwhile England players had a ‘responsibility’ to beryllium much supportive, peculiarly arsenic they hadn’t won immoderate silverware during their world careers.

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In a file for BBC Sport up of tonight’s last which pits Gareth Southgate’s England against Spain, Lineker felt his sentiment was balanced and fair.

He wrote: “Let’s beryllium honorable astir it, England are successful nan last contempt not playing very good erstwhile nan tourney started.

“It feels for illustration a batch has been made of nan BBC’s study of nan team, and peculiarly Harry Kane, erstwhile that was happening, but each we did was opportunity what we thought.

“We were captious of nan first fewer performances, but everyone was. And moreover nan England players and head person said since past that location was thing incorrect successful nan group games, but they are complete it now and they person been improving.

“On nan BBC, we were fundamentally conscionable saying that too. There were ne'er immoderate individual attacks astatine all, connected Harry aliases anyone else, because that is not our style – but we do person to beryllium honorable astir what we see.”

“I’m not a believer successful fairytales, but I americium a believer successful dreams.” 💫

Brilliant words, boss! pic.twitter.com/vi3zmPrLxK

— England (@England) July 14, 2024

Kane could still extremity up pinch nan Golden Boot

Kane has not played good successful Germany but still has a associated tournament-best 3 goals and remains firmly successful nan hunt for nan tournament’s Golden Boot.

And Lineker remains a immense instrumentality of nan erstwhile Tottenham man.

He added: “He mightiness not person been astatine his absolute champion but he is still nan champion finisher that I deliberation England person ever had, because he conscionable does not miss, and he is simply a changeless threat from beautiful overmuch anywhere.

“All we were trying to do arsenic a sheet connected TV was measure each of that, but sometimes newspaper journalists usage pundits to inquire their questions for them, because they person not really sewage nan courageousness to opportunity it themselves.

“We are utilized to that though, and I conjecture it is simply a compliment really, but past erstwhile England person started playing good present we past get told ‘Oh you are being excessively favourable, you person gone complete nan top’.

“You can’t win, basically, but I deliberation nan public, erstwhile you spot their response, work together that England did not play good successful their first games, and they are playing good now.”