Harry Kane called players’ summit after dismal display against Denmark to rally troops ahead of crunch Euro qualifier
ENGLAND skipper Harry Kane called a players’ summit after the dismal display against Denmark to try to rally his troops.
The Bayern Munich ace put England ahead against the Danes only to see it cancelled out as England limped to a disappointing 1-1 draw.
Paul EdwardsHarry Kane and Gareth Southgate in training yesterday[/caption]
Paul EdwardsKyle Walker seems to row with Kieran Trippier[/caption]
Paul EdwardsPhil Foden steps in as peacemaker to calm down Trippier[/caption]
Paul EdwardsTrippier sees the funny side and peace is restored in training[/caption]
And he later decided that his teammates needed a rousing call to arms to lift them for their next match on Tuesday.
Kane summoned the rest of the 26-man squad to a private meeting with no coaches present.
He wanted them to thrash out any differences and bring the squad closer — as well as reminding them that they had the class to win the Euros.
And it appeared from the players’ training session yesterday that more team bonding might well be in order.
At one stage, fellow full-backs Kieran Trippier, 33, and Kyle Walker, 34, had an exchange of words.
They stood a few feet away from each other, both with their arms spread — clearly disagreeing about something.
They had been laughing and joking moments earlier until Newcastle’s Trippier appeared to take exception to something Manchester City defender Walker said.
Walker’s club teammate Phil Foden, 24, appeared to step in as peacemaker, putting his hands on Trippier’s shoulders in an apparent bid to calm him down.
The players were all smiles again soon after.
The exchange followed Kane’s attempts to rouse the squad, thought to have taken place on Thursday morning at the team’s camp in Blankenhain.
A source said: “Harry is a natural leader and wanted to gee the lads up after Denmark.
“That game left the whole country feeling a bit flat, never mind just the players. Harry wanted to remind them how good they are. He urged them to pull together, to bond more, to express themselves.
“They are world-class players. They don’t really need reminding of that but everyone needs a pick- me-up now and then. It was a really rousing speech from Harry.”
All but Luke Shaw took part in training at the team’s camp yesterday — the first full session since the Denmark clash.
Manchester United defender Shaw is still battling to regain fitness.
The pitch was watered throughout the session.
There had been complaints about the state of the surface on Thursday after match organisers insisted on watering it before kick-off — against the advice of Frankfurt’s specialist grass technicians.
Kane said after the game: “It was tough out there with the heat and the pitch.”
Three Lions fans will hope his speech to the players worked and Gareth Southgate’s men can improve for the last Group C game against Slovenia in Cologne.
Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen, 27, hailed his family, including partner Dani Dyer, for supporting him at the Euros — but said she does not give him tactical advice.
He said her actor dad, Danny Dyer, had sent good luck messages, also telling him to “always play with a smile on your face”.
Jarrod’s dad Sam, brother Harry and two mates are travelling to games in Sam’s campervan — and “just kind of park up somewhere”.
Cab flag ban
TAXI drivers have hit out at a ban on flying England flags during the Euros.
The capital’s 125,000 cabbies and private hire drivers have been told they risk losing their licences if they show their support.
Transport for London bosses say the St George’s Cross could distract other drivers.
Cabbie Fred Perkins, 60, said: “Our society’s really gone woke when we can’t fly a little flag for England for the Euros.”
David Lawrie, director of the National Private Hire Association, said: “Common sense should allow mini England flags. The ban should be overturned.”
