The captain of the English national team was unimpressed in the European Championship final – and did not see the last half hour on the pitch. He was harshly criticized. The record of a game to forget.
He grabbed his head, let his shoulders drop, and collapsed onto the bench in Berlin's Olympic Stadium: Harry Kane's substitution in the 61st minute of the European Championship final was indicative of the 30-year-old's performance. The English team captain was disappointing in the final on Sunday evening.
Actually, it was supposed to be the “Three Lions'” Sunday evening. It was supposed to be the first title since the success at the 1966 World Cup on home soil, the first European Championship triumph ever. And Kane wanted to lead the way, to add at least one more goal to his three tournament goals so far. The result was nothing. No more goals – and no title for England or for Kane himself.
The bitter record of Kane’s evening:
25th minute: Kane is noticed for the first time with an overly harsh tackle on Spain's Fabián. The striker goes after a ball in midfield, but his sliding tackle only hits his opponent. Referee Francois Letexier immediately pulls out the yellow card.
35th minute: Kane has to help out in his own penalty area. Spain's Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal take a short corner and set up Dani Olmo just 20 meters from the English goal. He shoots straight away – and Kane blocks the attempt.
45th minute: Kane finally gets a shot on goal. After Spain's Dani Carvajal loses the ball, Jude Bellingham sets up his teammate on the edge of the penalty area and Kane shoots straight away. But Rodri throws himself in front of the shot.
61st minute: The number nine actually lights up on the scoreboard. England coach Gareth Southgate takes his hapless captain off the pitch. Kane runs to his teammate Kyle Walker and puts the captain's armband on him. Ollie Watkins comes on for him.
And: Watkins had an immediate, revitalizing effect on the English team's game. Kane then had to watch helplessly from the bench as his teammates equalized through Cole Palmer, who had also come on as a substitute (73') – and conceded the game-deciding 1:2 in the 87th minute.
There was clear criticism of Kane on social media.
“Kane should go see a warlock. That curse is really powerful,” wrote one user on X, reminding everyone that Kane remains without a career title.
Another even said: “Kane really needs to retire. He's just crippling England.” And yet another wrote ironically: “A 17-year-old won a title before Harry Kane” – a reference to Spain's youngster Lamine Yamal.
