"I wouldn't fight to disagree with him either" - Gary Neville echoes Wayne Rooney's claim about England star being country's greatest player
Gary Neville has agreed with Wayne Rooney's claim that Harry Kane is the greatest player to play for England. The pundit has lavished praise on the Bayern Munich forward ahead of their Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday, July 14.
The Three Lions have reached the Euro 2024 final for the second consecutive edition under Gareth Southgate. They beat Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands in the knockout stages.
Kane has scored three goals in this edition. He is the tournament's joint top goalscorer so far alongside Dani Olmo, Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo, Ivan Schranz, and Georges Mikautadze.
Neville revealed a conversation with Rooney on Sky Sports where he claimed that Kane is the greatest England player ever. The former right-back is in agreement with his former Manchester United teammate as he said:
"I spoke to Wayne Rooney four or five weeks ago before the tournament started and he said Harry Kane is the greatest England player ever. That is massive praise from someone who has been around the block with England in Rooney.
"I wouldn't fight to disagree with him either. Harry Kane has been absolutely sensational. I always called him gold when he was at Tottenham, you just know full well that he's going to deliver for you. He's a solid character."
"I think he's obviously below his best in this tournament, it does look like he is carrying something and it wouldn't surprise me at all if it emerged in a week or two that he's had issues during the tournament with something that he's trying to bandage up."
Harry Kane is England's all-time top scorer with 66 goals and 19 assists in 97 games.
"It wouldn't send a great message" - Gary Neville believes Harry Kane must start in Euro 2024 final for England
While Kane has been in goalscoring form at the Euros this year, he has not seemed his best and at times has looked exhausted on the pitch. The 30-year-old even admitted to feeling fatigued in the quarter-finals against Switzerland.
He has received some criticism for his performances and his place in the starting XI has been questioned as a result. However, Neville believes that the Bayern Munich forward has to start against Spain. He highlighted Harry Kane's importance in the team as a leader and claimed that benching the England captain would send the wrong message to the squad.
Neville said:
"Harry Kane is someone, ultimately at this moment in time, who will not be dropped by Gareth Southgate. I know there is a sense that people think we are better without him, but it wouldn't send a great message to the squad internally. He's very clearly their leader and Southgate has full, total faith in him."
Kane became the European player with the most goals at major international tournaments (9) after his goal in the semi-final against the Netherlands.