Gary Lineker reacts to Harry Kane's call for former England players to remember their 'responsibility'

Simon Collings
·2-min read
Gary Lineker reacts to Harry Kane's call for former England players to remember their 'responsibility'

Gary Lineker has responded to Harry Kane hitting back at his critical analysis of England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark.

In the wake of England’s draw last Thursday, which kept them top of their group at Euro 2024, Lineker labelled the performance “s***” while speaking on his podcast.

He also said that that Kane “needs to do a lot better” and it prompted the England captain to respond during a press conference on Sunday.

Kane wants outspoken ex-England players to remember what it is like to wear the shirt and how tough tournaments were for them before criticising Gareth Southgate’s side.

Speaking in response to Kane on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Lineker said: “I get it and it puts Harry on the spot, but I thought he actually answered fine, with one or two bits in there, but it’s not easy when you are thrown that kind of thing.

“Could you imagine if we went on and said: ‘Well, actually, I thought they played really well.’ We would be lying for a start, because they didn’t play well and Harry knows they didn’t play well.

“I understand where he says: ‘They have a responsibility being ex-England players, they should know, they know what it is like, it’s not like they have won anything’ - or words to that effect.

“Fine and he is absolutely right, but I will say one thing, the last thing in the world we want to be is downbeat and critical. We want the England team to perform well on the pitch.

“The best punditry of all is when England play well, and we are excited and we are enthusiastic about them, we are saying this performance was great, that performance was great. “We don’t want to be critical, but we have to be sometimes.”

Former England striker Alan Shearer, who was on the podcast with Lineker last week, has also addressed the situation and insisted that he stands by their analysis.

“We have both been there as England captains, when you have sat in front of the media when England have not played well at all or you as an individual have not played well,” he said.

“I would have answered the question in exactly the same way as England captain as Harry did yesterday.

“He just said they are entitled their opinion, I understand they also have a job to do - and we do. We have to tell it.

“I’ve no problem with what he said and I wouldn’t take anything back that we said. England were really poor.”

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Barnabas Varga operation a success as Hungary striker returns home after leaving hospital

    The striker’s operation was a success and he has been able to return home

  • Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain

    The football drama in Malaysia has reached fever-pitch, with the spotlight now on the Johor and Selangor palaces. The post Malaysians on tenterhooks after Johor Regent takes on Selangor Sultan in public domain appeared first on Twentytwo13.

  • Gareth Southgate: ‘I am the problem’

    Gareth Southgate has admitted being England’s major problem at the European Championship, plunging his future as manager in doubt beyond the tournament.

  • Euro 2024: Last-16 fixtures, results, knockout schedule, group standings

    Knockout stages are now set for Euro 2024

  • Transfer news LIVE! Gyokeres to Arsenal; Chelsea hijack Dewsbury-Hall deal; Zirkzee deadline for Man United

    Follow the latest deals, updates, rumours and gossip across the summer window

  • Arsenal confirm summer transfer as newest signing reveals key reason behind move

    The Gunners have bolstered their goalkeeping ranks as they continue to plan for a bright future

  • LeBron James' son Bronny drafted by dad's LA Lakers

    Bronny James is picked by the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA draft, bringing his father LeBron's dream of playing alongside his son a step closer.

  • Watch: Cristiano Ronaldo saved by stewards as fan jumps from stands at Euro 2024

    Cristiano Ronaldo was at the centre of another European Championship security scare after a fan almost landed on him jumping from the stands.

  • Chelsea: What Alexander Isak has said about Newcastle exit amid Blues interest

    Chelsea have reportedly made contact over a huge summer deal

  • 2024 NBA Draft: Winners and losers from the first round, featuring the Spurs, Grizzlies and France

    Here is a stab at a first draft of history — a thumbnail sketch of who had a pretty good first night of the 2024 NBA Draft, and who might wind up looking back at the evening wistfully, with some regret.

  • France to face Belgium in last-16 at Euro 2024 as line-up takes shape

    France and Belgium, the world's second and third best teams respectively in the Fifa rankings, will meet in the last-16 at Euro 2024 next Monday in Dusseldorf after the line-up for the knockout stages was completed on Wednesday night. Georgia, who are competing at the competition for the first time, beat Portugal 2-0 to move into the last-16 where they will face Spain. "I don't have a lot of words so I will try to stay basic and say that I'm so proud of the players because what an image they hav

  • Socceroos pitted against Japan and Saudi Arabia in World Cup qualification

    The Socceroos face a tantalising rematch with Japan, the side that beat Australia both home and away at the same stage of qualification for the 2022 World Cup

  • 2024 NBA Draft grades: First-round pick-by-pick analysis

    Here are Yahoo Sports' complete first-round draft grades.

  • NBA Draft: Timberwolves trade with Spurs for No. 8 pick Rob Dillingham

    Fresh off a breakout season, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded into the lottery Wednesday night.

  • Why Finns are deadly serious about hobby horsing

    A buzz of excitement crackled through the hushed arena as the rider gripped the reins of her stuffed steed.Welcome to the strangely exacting world of hobby horsing, the Finnish sport guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Immaculately-coiffed equestrians leap athletically over fences just like in horse jumping, going as fast as they can against the clock straddling their stick steeds.Things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their stick horses with intricately decorated stuffed heads before the discerning eyes of the judges.Some 260 riders from 22 countries -- most women and girls aged between 10 and 20 -- turned up to compete at the 11th annual Finnish championship held in the town of Seinajoki.But despite its vast international reach, from the Arctic to Argentina, hobby horsing is a sport that dares not speak its name.- 'Insane' athleticism -Despite its soaring popularity, it is not officially recognised as a proper sport in its birthplace."We have faced so much bullying and judgement," rider Nara Arlin, 24, told AFP."We know what everyone in the hobby horsing has been through... I think that is the main thing that pulls us together."First invented in Finland more than a decade ago, hobby horsing has taken off at a gallop across the globe. "It is growing every year," said Julia Mikkonen, the chair of the Finnish hobby horse association.This year's championship was "the biggest we have had so far", she added.Beyond the whimsy, great strength and skill is required to jump the obstacles while holding the hobby horse. Some top competitors could give elite hurdlers or gymnasts a run for their money."If you jump over obstacles your hip mobility has to be absolutely insane," said Mikkonen, 20, with some fences up to 110 centimetres (3.6 feet) tall. - 10,000 enthusiasts -"Of course we are all dreaming of having a world championship one day," said Mikkonen, who estimates there are around 10,000 hobby horsers globally."I am still a bit breathless but I am happy with my performance", said 19-year-old Jojo Hanninen as she sat down after her dressage event. To succeed in the sport you have to channel your inner centaur, she said."In hobby horsing, my legs are the horse... I am both horse and human," she said. Hanninen's hobby horse is a grey called Toope, with glittery reins and pink ribbons adorning its white mane.- Welcoming community -Competitors go to great lengths with their horses -- which are also exhibited and judged -- modelling and sewing the heads and adorning them with decorations.  "Hobby horses are art," said Arlin, who makes her own.With the cheers of the crowd still ringing in her ears after an impressive show jumping round, she hailed the sport as "the best hobby ever"."You are doing so many things with your hands, brain and the whole body."Like many of her peers, Arlin found hobby horsing through play as a child. "But the older I became, it became more serious," said the rider, who trains by riding real horses, working out in the gym and doing pole dancing.Rainbow flags in the arena reflected the tolerant values underpinning the community.   "Horses are mostly seen as a girls' sport, but that is not correct. Anyone can come no matter what gender," Mikkonen said.   Every enthusiast AFP spoke to praised the welcoming community that kept them devoted to hobby horsing despite the scornful attitudes all encountered at some point."We have each other's backs," said Arlin. ank/po/fg/smw

  • Arsenal handed Victor Osimhen transfer boost as new update delivered

    The Gunners and Chelsea have both been strongly linked with the Nigerian international, who is expected to leave Napoli this summer

  • Slovakia scouting report: The ex-coffee salesman plotting England’s downfall

    England will undoubtedly be the favourites for their round of 16 meeting with Slovakia at Euro 2024, but they must not be overconfident. Slovakia are potentially tricky opponents for Gareth Southgate’s team, and there are plenty of reasons for England to be concerned.

  • Anyone who thinks England have an easy draw at Euro 2024 needs a history lesson

    Have people forgotten the pre-Southgate tournament record across a long period – including defeat by Iceland?

  • Euro 2024 group stages got more boring with every game – Uefa is to blame

    Congratulations to Slovenia, through to the knockout stages of an international tournament for the first time with their smaller population than Birmingham, two goals and three draws across three matches. Stirring stuff, but irritating for Ukraine in particular, who are going home despite earning four points in the group stage rather than Slovenia’s three.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers Bat Boy Saves The Day And Shohei Ohtani

    Los Angeles Dodgers bat boy Javier Herrera might have saved Shohei Ohtani’s season. Herrera was standing on the dugout steps during the team’s game against the Chicago White Sox when a vicious line drive came screaming into the dugout. Check out the video below. Ohtani was directly in back of Herrera, and would have been …