Interim boss Lee Carsley set to bench England superstar against Greece in decision that has left entire squad in shock: Reports
Interim England manager Lee Carsley is reportedly set to bench captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane for his side's game against Greece. The Three Lions will continue their UEFA Nations League campaign with a trip to Athens on November 14, where they have to try and avenge their most recent defeat.
In their last meeting at Wembley in October, Greece claimed a shock 2-1 win over Carsley's side, a result that sent them top of Group 2. In what will be the final international window before Thomas Tuchel replaces Lee Carsley in the dugout, the manager has taken a bold choice for the game against Greece.
According to The Guardian, Carsley has decided that Harry Kane will not lead the line in Athens as he has done for nearly a decade now. The decision of the manager has left most of the squad in shock, seeing as the Bayern Munich man is their record goalscorer. In his stead, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins will start against the Greek side in Athens, having scored five times in 11 league games this season.
Harry Kane started for the Three Lions in their last game, a 3-1 win over Finland in Helsinki, back in October. He did not find the net for the side, just as he failed to score after being introduced as a substitute in the game against Greece days prior.
Kane is his country's best goalscorer ever, with 68 goals in 101 senior appearances since his debut in 2015. The 31-year-old is still strutting his stuff out in Germany with Bayern Munich, with 11 goals in 10 Bundesliga games this season, and five in four in the UEFA Champions League.
England captain berates teammates over withdrawals
England captain Harry Kane has called out some of his teammates for their decisions to pull out of the UEFA Nations League games this month. A total of eight players decided to leave the Three Lions camp with a series of physical complaints, leaving the skipper unhappy.
Kane spoke at a press conference about the turn of events that led his teammates to choose their clubs over the national team. The Bayern Munich star pointed out that playing for the country mattered more than anything to the players in the past.
"[Gareth] Southgate brought the joy to play for England back. Every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England and that's the most important thing. I think England comes before anything. England comes before club, it is the most important thing as a professional footballer," he said (via Sky Sports).
Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Levi Colwill, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer were the players to pull out of the squad. They have since been joined by Everton man Jarrad Branthwaite, with Jarell Quansah invited in his place.