Harry Kane criticised for handling of Gary Lineker row with 'touchy' England captain told to front up negative Euro 2024 comments by former Three Lions star

England captain Kane said ex-internationals such as Lineker should be more "helpful" with their remarks before they criticise Gareth Southgate's side, after the BBC presenter described Three Lions' 1-1 draw with Denmarkas"sh*t". Now, former Arsenal forward Alan Smith says the Bayern Munich ace should have taken the comments on the chin, which also included Alan Shearer laying into the team, and focus on improving England's performances at the Euro 2024.

The former England international told Prime Casino: "I wasn’t surprised to see Kane hit back at England’s critics because he can only answer the questions journalists ask him. Did you hear what Gary Lineker said? Did you hear what Shearer said? The criticism bites a bit harder when you’re a player inside the camp and you start to develop a siege mentality. I’ve been in Kane’s shoes, and you know very well that the players will be talking about the criticism, especially when it’s coming from Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer. I would have preferred it if Harry Kane said: 'Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have seen and done it all playing for England, so they’re entitled to their opinion, but we haven’t played well and we need to do better'. I think he could have avoided saying Lineker and Shearer have also been in this position and struggled so shouldn’t be criticising. Does that mean that they can’t criticise players when they are getting paid to give their opinion and insight? When performances aren’t good, things get touchy. Players cannot avoid seeing the criticism – it’s on their phones and in their rooms – they’re all aware of it, it all about how they handle it."

England came into the tournament as one of the favourites but they have looked anything but that so far. The Three Lions unconvincingly won their group to progress to the knockout stages but they will have to improve if they want to win their first international trophy since 1966.

Southgate's England side take on Slovakia, who finished third in their group, in a last 16 tie on Sunday evening. Kane - who scored in the draw with Denmark - and his team-mates will need to up their game to progress to the quarter-finals.