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Harry Kane says England’s players need to have “uncomfortable conversations” and “dig each other out” if they are to progress as a team.
New boss Thomas Tuchel has spoken at length of the need for improved togetherness if the Three Lions are to challenge at the World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 15 months’ time.
Join us live from @SpursOfficial’s training ground to hear from Thomas Tuchel, followed by captain @HKane, ahead of tomorrow’s game against Albania 🎙️ https://t.co/QBg52lhfjV
— England (@England) March 20, 2025
Captain Kane emphasised it was currently a close-knit group but admitted it may be a more confrontational approach is required if England are to win a major trophy for the first time in 60 years.
Speaking ahead of Tuchel’s first game in charge, against Albania tomorrow night, the Bayern Munich striker said: “I think the next step is to go into detail and have uncomfortable conversations with each other on the pitch and off the pitch when things aren’t quite going your way.
“Not just be a friend to your team-mates but dig your team-mate out and push them on in a different way. I think it’s that next step.
“But to normally be in a winning team you still have to be willing to have those conversations.”
Leadership group yet to be formed
That re-set in culture is normally generated by a team’s leadership group but Kane said that had yet to be agreed on, adding: “We had brief conversations about it. It hasn’t officially been formed yet. You have me, Hendo [Jordan Henderson], you have Kyle [Walker].
“Obviously, Dan [Burn] has come into his first camp but I think Dan is seen as a leader in his role. And we have the likes of Dec [Declan Rice] and Jude [Bellingham] and players like that even though they are younger have the responsibility to show those leadership qualities as well.
“It hasn’t been spoken about a lot but I’m sure we will over the next few days. I’m sure the conversations will continue when we are away from camp as well up until the June camp and the conversations will be frequent.”
The technique 😮💨@EbereEze10 x @PhilFoden. pic.twitter.com/5BpwR5ZQoJ
— England (@England) March 20, 2025
Kane admits issues at Euros
In a forthright interview with ITV Sport, aired earlier on Thursday, Tuchel criticised England predecessor Gareth Southgate and said the team were “afraid’ and had “no identity and no hunger” at Euro 2024.
Asked for his thoughts, Kane admitted there had been a fear factor to the team’s play potentially brought about due to their pre-tournament status as favourites.
He said: “I think there were more expectations than what we had in any other tournament. In 2018, no expectation, in 2020 not so much. In the World Cup in Qatar, we were not the favourites but we did quite well.
“This was probably the first one we were one of the favourites. It was clear that people expected us to win the tournament. Even though we leaned on the experience we all had in other tournaments, we couldn’t quite find the rhythm, we couldn’t quite find the energy together.
“In one sense it shows how good our character and resilience are to still reach a European final. But for sure when watch those games back, we didn’t have the rhythm we had in other games.”
He brings energy – Kane on Tuchel
Kane worked under Tuchel at Bayern Munich last season and is pleased they will be able to reconnect at international level.
He said of the German: ”He brings a lot of energy when he’s on the pitch. I think that’s definitely fell into the team and the team has responded very well.
“Very straight talking, he knows what he wants and knows what he wants from his team. It doesn’t matter who you are or how many games you played, he’ll tell you the same as he will tell one of the young players he wants and that’s a good standard to set.”