England captain Harry Kane has voiced strong disappointment over the unprecedented withdrawal of nine players from the national squad. The withdrawals come ahead of crucial UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
Kane, speaking at a press conference in Athens, emphasised that representing England should always take priority over club commitments.
“England comes before anything. England comes before the club, it is the most important thing as a professional footballer,” the Bayern Munich striker stated.
The high-profile withdrawals include Arsenal stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, along with Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Phil Foden. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, and Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale have also pulled out. Cole Palmer and Jarrad Branthwaite were the latest players to withdraw from the squad. Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has been called up as a replacement for Branthwaite.
Kane suggested some players might be taking advantage of the demanding fixture schedule. “It’s a shame this week. It’s a tough period of the season and maybe that’s been taken advantage of a little bit,” he said. The England skipper recalled how former manager Gareth Southgate had successfully built enthusiasm for national team duty.
“Southgate brought the joy to play for England back. Every camp people were excited to come, every camp people wanted to play for England,” Kane reflected. Interim manager Lee Carsley, who is overseeing his final camp before Thomas Tuchel takes charge, maintained a diplomatic stance. “The focus all camp has been on the players that are here. It is important that we make the most of this situation,” Carsley said.
Carsley dismissed suggestions of a brewing club versus country conflict. He emphasised that November has historically been a challenging window for international fixtures. The withdrawals have created opportunities for emerging talents. Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, promoted from the Under-21 squad, described his call-up as a “pinch-me moment.”
I’m a big England fan, so I watched all the internationals growing up. Playing with these players now is a pinch-me moment,” Rogers shared.
He expressed determination to prove himself at the senior level. England face Greece at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Thursday. The team must win to maintain hopes of automatic promotion in the Nations League. The mass withdrawals have raised concerns about player commitment to international duty.
Kane’s strong stance reflects growing frustration within the England camp about availability issues. Despite the setbacks, the remaining squad members are focused on the upcoming matches. The situation has created unexpected opportunities for younger players to stake their claim for regular selection.
England’s performance in these matches could influence new manager Thomas Tuchel’s planning. The German coach will take charge following these Nations League fixtures. The timing of these withdrawals, coming in a crucial international window, has sparked debate about the balance between club and country commitments. It highlights ongoing challenges in managing player workload across domestic and international schedules.
For Kane, who has consistently prioritised England duty throughout his career, the situation represents a concerning shift in attitude. His comments reflect a desire to maintain the strong team culture built under Southgate’s leadership.
