Harry Kane 'must' start Euro 2024 final as Gary Neville reveals what Wayne Rooney said about Bayern Munich star's undroppable status

Ahead of England's Euros final against Spain on Sunday, following a semi-final win over the Netherlands, former Manchester United player Neville has spoken about how good Kane has been for his country. He hailed the Bayern Munich forward as "sensational" and did not disagree with ex-team-mate Wayne Rooney's claim that the forward is the Three Lions' greatest player.

He told Sky Sports News: "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.

"You look at that [knockout] record now and some of the greatest goalscorers of all time are on that list, obviously Kylian Mbappe (who has eight knockout goals, the same number as Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose and Antoine Griezmann) is seen as the best player in the world right now.

"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."

England are on the brink of making history in men's international football. They are one win away from winning the men's Euros - and a major international trophy on foreign soil - for the first time. And if Gareth Southgate's side are to become history-makers, they will need Kane to be firing on all cylinders against tournament favourites Spain.

Get the latest England Euro 2024 odds as the Three Lions target tournament glory

Kane's England side take on Luis de la Fuente's highly-fancied Spain at Olympiastadion in Berlin on Sunday night. The Spaniard's beat France 2-1 in the last four and will undoubtedly be the Three Lions' toughest test yet.