‘That’s a sitter’: Alan Shearer questions Harry Kane’s sharpness after England’s No 9 squanders gilt-edged chance at the end of first-half against Germany… as striker has just NINE touches in disjointed 45 minutes
A fully-firing Harry Kane would have put England in front during the tetchy first-half of their crunch last-16 Euro 2020 clash with Germany.
That was the view of BBC pundit Alan Shearer, who questioned the mentality of England’s No 9, who squandered a gilt-edged chance in added time at the end of the first half.
After Raheem Sterling pounced on a loose ball inside the German half, the Manchester City star’s driving run was ended on the edge of the area, before the ball broke kindly for Kane.
Harry Kane missed England’s best chance of the half as they failed to find a way past Germany
However, The Tottenham forward took a heavy touch with his left foot as he tried to round Manuel Neuer inside the six-yard box, allowing Mats Hummels to get back and clear the danger.
It typified a disappointing first half for Kane, who had just nine touches throughout the first forty-five minutes.
Speaking at half-time, former England striker Shearer said: ‘you’re confident Harry Kane sticks it away – Sterling does well, it falls perfectly for Kane – can he stick it away with left foot?
The No 9 tried to round Manuel Neuer, but his heavy touch allowed Mats Hummels to recover
‘He tries not to, really poor touch, sterling does well to get it there, falls kindly for him, but that’s a sitter – a big, big chance he’s been waiting for.
‘Harry’s got to offer more, there’s talk of him coming deep but look at his movement, he doesn’t move at all, he’s got to try to help the team much more than he’s doing.
‘They’re not helping with the balls up to him but he’s had nine touches in the game so far, he should be screaming if that ball’s not coming in. He got into positions where his movement must be better. Have a go at them when it doesn’t come in.’
Kane has endured a tricky tournament so far, failing to net in any of England’s three group games.
It comes as something of a surprise after the numbers he posted during the Premier League season with Tottenham, after netting 33 times in all competitions.
Kane endured a disappointing opening forty-five minutes at Wembley on Tuesday afternoon
And Rio Ferdinand echoed frustrations that he has so far been unable to replicate that form in an England jersey this summer.
‘It’s a frustration when you watch him,’ said the former Manchester United defender.
‘His movement doesn’t look like it does at Spurs but this team don’t seem to be playing it into him, he’s at his best when he has multiple possessions of the ball. Is it his movement? Bit of both.’