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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"competitionId":"8tddm56zbasf57jkkay4kbf11"}}</script><ul><li>Kane has been struggling at Euro 2024</li><li>Critics question his fitness levels</li><li>Insisted that he feels "better and sharper"</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Harry Kane questions whether his critics 'really understand football' as England captain breaks silence on fitness concerns ahead of Euro 2024 semi-final with Netherlands

Kane's performances for England at Euro 2024 have been under the spotlight. Although he scored the crucial winner against Slovakia in their last-16 tie and against Denmark in the group stage, the striker's<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/harry-kane-compared-with-cristiano-ronaldo-peter-crouch-three-lions-captain-does-not-get-enough-respect/blt6806073aebf345a5" target="_blank"> contributions have been questioned</a> by some former players and pundits.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In an interview with <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/07/09/harry-kane-england-euro-2024-proving-people-wrong/" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a>, Kane argued: "If you look over the last couple of major tournaments, there’s always been at some stage question marks over my fitness or my form. I think it is part and parcel of it. I always say I want to score in every game. I want to try and help the team in every game from that sense. But also my role isn’t just scoring goals."My role is a lot of work defensively, a lot of work without the ball, a lot of work in leadership. So of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I know everyone wants me to score three goals a game and I want to score three goals a game. But it’s not always the case."

WHAT KANE SAID

Kane believes that the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/like-cristiano-ronaldo-harry-kane-only-keeping-england-spot-name-bayern-munich-man-ripped-lazy-euro-2024-displays/blt9b9a92db1c44dafb" target="_blank">criticisms often come from those who may not fully grasp the complexities</a> of his role on the pitch. Moreover, he has faced scrutiny over his fitness, having suffered a back injury at the end of the season with Bayern Munich. Former England international Ian Wright is among those to have noted that Kane does not appear to be at his sharpest, leading to discussions about whether he should be dropped from England's starting lineup.“Maybe, sometimes when I don’t score I think the fitness one is an easy one just to throw in now – ‘why? Is there a reason? Is it his fitness? Is it not?’,” Kane stated.“But like I said before the tournament, I felt like I had a good preparation going into it, I felt like I’m getting better and sharper as the games go along. Ultimately, it’s just down to me performing on the pitch.“We have a semi-final ahead of us and of course, I’d love nothing more than to score a couple of goals and get through to the final. So that’s what I’m trying to do, as always do my talking on the pitch.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A significant part of the debate around Kane's performance is his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/harry-kane-why-england-captain-must-start-euro-2024-semi-final-netherland-alan-shearer/blt79cf5bb89a730f76" target="_blank">positioning on the field. </a>Some, like former England striker Alan Shearer, have suggested that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/gareth-southgate-told-to-drop-harry-kane-england-euro-2024-semi-final-netherlands/blt04d4f32b7f57438e" target="_blank">Kane should play higher up the pitch rather than dropping deep. </a>However, Kane has defended his tactical movements, explaining that his deeper positioning is often strategic, designed to create space for his team-mates and disrupt the opposition's defence.“When I’m dropping deep it might not necessarily be to get the ball,” Kane explained. “It might be to create space for players around me or drag defenders out of their positions and leave space for others. As you’ve seen in my game in recent years I like to get on the ball and turn…I criticise myself as much as anything and I know there have been times in games for sure where I could do better and move better, especially in and around the box."Ultimately I do what’s best for the team and I know I’ll always be judged on goals. But if you had said before the tournament I’d have a couple of goals, I’d be in the semi-finals, I’d have bitten your hand off. So there’s a lot of perspective. I understand it. I understand we’re in a major tournament and that at the end of the day, everyone just wants the best for England and wants us to go through. But if you really understand football and analyse football there are different reasons for dropping deep and staying high and that’s what we work on throughout the week, to exploit the other team.”

KANE ON HIS ROLE FOR ENGLAND

As England prepare for their semi-final against the Netherlands, Kane's leadership and form will be crucial. Interestingly, despite the criticism, the striker can still end up winning the Golden Boot, as he only trails current leading scorers Dutch forward Cody Gakpo and Spain's Dani Olmo by a single goal.

WHAT NEXT FOR KANE?

Harry Kane questions whether his critics 'really understand football' as England captain breaks silence on fitness concerns ahead of Euro 2024 semi-final with Netherlands | Goal.com US

England captain Harry Kane has questioned whether his critics &quot;really understand football&quot; while addressing concerns over his fitness.

Harry Kane questions whether his critics &apos;really understand football&apos; as England captain breaks silence on fitness concerns ahead of Euro 2024 semi-final with Netherlands