‘Kane has a proper to answer to Lineker’s criticism – it is my job to present him it’
Gary Lineker wasn’t happy with the Daily Star for putting his foul-mouthed criticism of England to captain Harry Kane.
The BBC Match of the Day host was content with saying “England were sh*t” on his ‘The Rest is Football’ podcast, which he hosts and owns through his Goalhanger production company, after the Three Lions’ draw with Denmark last week. That came after he singled Kane out in his post-match analysis, claiming the Bayern Munich forward had “barely moved”, despite scoring in the 1-1 stalemate.
But when I asked Kane, 30, for his view on Lineker’s comments – and the England captain responded firstly by reminding the crisp salesman and other pundits of their responsibility when talking about young players, and secondly by pointing out Lineker himself won nothing at international level – the 63-year-old pundit accused me of “trying to stir the pot” and being “too scared” to ask a question for myself.
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I’d heard the podcast in which Lineker described England’s performance against Denmark as ‘sh*t’ and included the quote in my aftermath coverage of the game. At an England press conference I attended on Saturday, Jarrod Bowen was asked if he had heard what Lineker had said. He replied he thought his podcast would have been “more PG”.
When we were given the chance to interview Harry Kane the next day I thought it was important to give him a right of reply to Lineker’s comment. What was key here was the use of the word ‘sh*t’. Kane stressed in the earlier part of the press conference he had no issue with constructive criticism about either his own or the team’s performance from anyone – fans or pundits.
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(Image: YouTube/The Rest is Football podcast)
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The issue was whether calling them sh*t was constructive criticism or potentially harmful to a squad packed with young players. When someone of Lineker’s importance – an England legend and high profile football broadcaster – used such a word I wondered if it hit home harder with Kane and the team than if it had come from a fan or someone with lesser stature in the game.
I knew I had to use the word because the use of the word was the issue. It wasn’t about Lineker’s criticism of England. Harry has accepted he wasn’t bothered about constructive criticism. It was purely whether sh*t – from someone of Lineker’s stature – was constructive or harmful.
I was selected by the FA and allowed to ask three questions. The other two were about the players’ family day with their WAGs and how he’d used the message ‘don’t panic’ five times in the press conferences. I asked if that was his message to the team. I didn’t know the press conference was being broadcast live but that was not my primary concern. I had one chance to ask the question and had to take it.
The reaction from Kane was positive. He went on to talk at length answering follow up questions about the issue of ex-players giving negative opinions as pundits – and said many if them were being controversial for their own gain in promoting podcasts or their own media channels. But he was worried about the impact of such comments on younger players.
(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
The FA had no issues with the question. Sky had to broadcast an apology for my language. On X it went viral. Opinions were mixed but most seemed impressed by Harry’s response. Some seemed to miss the point that Harry was not suggesting Lineker should lie or say nothing but he should remember from the days when he wore the shirt the effect such remarks could have on the squad.
As for being scared of expressing my own opinion about England, I would say my opinion matters little to anyone – not even my mates – compared to that of an England legend and former Three Lions captain. I didn’t think it was brave to ask it – just fair to Harry and the team.
