Graeme Souness has encouraged Gareth Southgate to bench England’s captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane for the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
The Three Lions are one game away from hoisting their first major trophy in 58 years and winning the Euros for the first time, as they prepare to face Luis de la Fuente’s strong Spain on Sunday night.
Southgate has made minimal alterations to his squad throughout the tournament, relying primarily on a core group that includes captain Kane.
However, Souness feels the England manager should’seriously consider’ removing the Bayern Munich striker in favour of Ollie Watkins for the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.
After leaving childhood club Tottenham last summer, Kane had a fantastic debut season at Bayern, scoring 44 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions.
However, the 30-year-old had an injury toward the conclusion of the season that seems to be bothering him at the Euros. Even though he doesn’t appear to have entirely recovered, Kane is tied for the tournament lead in goals scored with three, putting him a strong candidate to win the Golden Boot.
Watkins, an Aston Villa striker, came in to score the game-winning goal in the ninetieth minute to take England to consecutive European Championship finals after Kane was substituted late in the semi-final matchup with the Netherlands.
“On Saturday, Gareth Southgate will have to make the most important football decision of his life: whether to bench Harry Kane,” Souness stated to the Daily Mail.
“If he makes the right choice, Gareth will become a national hero, and based on the information available, I believe you have to exclude Harry.”
“I’ve been one of Harry’s biggest fans.” Although he is an excellent goal scorer who has excelled for England, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich, he has appeared to be pulling a trailer around the football field during this tournament.
‘The introduction of Ollie Watkins against the Netherlands enlivened the team. Park the fact he scored a wonderful goal, his contribution changed England as an attacking threat.
‘Gareth has been fiercely loyal to Harry, often with good reason as he has been a matchwinner on many occasions, and as I’ve said before I wouldn’t like to begin to second guess what England’s manager does next, but he has to seriously consider this change.’
England underwhelmed in their three Euro 2024 group games but still managed to top Group C and move into the easier side of the draw.
To overcome Slovakia, then defeat Switzerland on penalties in the quarterfinals, and then defeat the Netherlands in the final, Southgate’s team had to pull off a spectacular late comeback.
In the meanwhile, Spain won three games to win Group B and went on to eliminate Georgia, eliminate Germany as the hosts, and narrowly defeat France to go to the final.
With anticipation for the main event, Souness continued, “Spain is the favorite, but they are definitely not invincible.”
“England should instill fearlessness in its players; they need to adopt this mindset in order to win this tournament for the first time.”