MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 19:47:59| >> :120:12106:12106:
[monks data]
Greece national football team
Nations League | League B
Nov 14, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis
England national football team

Greece
0 - 0
England

LIVE
1'

Harry Kane 'emerges as injury doubt' for England game after hitting out at withdrawals

Ironic timing: Kane 'uncertain' for England game after withdrawals rant
© Imago
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is reportedly a doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League clash with Greece due to injury.

England captain Harry Kane has reportedly emerged as a late doubt for Thursday's UEFA Nations League meeting with Greece due to a knock.

The 31-year-old - who sat out October's 2-1 defeat to the Pirate Ship on account of a minor injury - recently slammed his international teammates who pulled out of Lee Carsley's squad for November's matches.

As many as eight players withdrew from the original selection, and one of the five replacements called up - Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite - also pulled out ahead of the clash with Greece this week.

Kane expressed his belief that clubs are taking "advantage" of the situation with the England team, as Carsley will only be in charge for two more matches before stepping aside for Thomas Tuchel in the New Year.

The former Tottenham Hotspur man would have been expected to spearhead the attack for Thursday's match, but according to journalist Sami Mokbel, he is nursing a niggle and is not certain to feature.

Who could start instead of Kane for England?

Harry Kane of Bayern Munich during his side's game against Benfica, on November 6, 2024© Imago

There is still a chance that Kane could shake off his concern in time for the pivotal contest, as anything other than victory for England will extinguish their hopes of automatic promotion to League A.

However, Mokbel reports that Ollie Watkins is currently 'on standby' to replace his skipper if needs be, with the Aston Villa man seemingly ahead of Dominic Solanke in the Three Lions' pecking order.

Watkins set up goals off the bench in both of England's matches against Greece and Finland last month, and he will be making just his sixth start for the national team should he step in for Kane this evening.

West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen is an alternative option in the centre-forward role for England, who sit three points adrift of Greece in League B Group 2 of the Nations League.

As head-to-head records take precedence over goal difference in the Nations League, the Three Lions will not be able to overtake Greece on the final matchday if they come away from Athens with a point.

Timing of Kane injury ironic after England comments

England's Harry Kane pictured on July 14, 2024© Imago

As the England captain, Kane was never going to come out and say that club football is more important than representing the national team, but the timing of this 'niggle' could hardly be more ironic.

The immediate replies to Mokbel's post were scathing and sarcastic in nature, with one user on X posting: "He should play. Country over any injury," after the striker's stern words to his teammates who had pulled out.

Eight withdrawals in one go is certainly unprecedented, and one cannot help but wonder whether clubs would have pulled so many players from the selection had Tuchel already taken the reins or Gareth Southgate still been at the helm.

Genuine injuries are more than a good enough excuse to pull out, though, and teams competing in Europe have also had extra games added to an already unforgiving schedule thanks to the expansion of UEFA club competitions.

Kane will also have the luxury of a Bundesliga Christmas break between December 20 and January 11, but there will be four rounds of Premier League fixtures in between those dates, as well as the EFL Cup quarter-finals next month.

ID:558085:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6104:No Data Analysis info

Click here for more stories about Harry Kane

Click here for more stories about Bayern Munich

Data Failed

How you voted: Greece vs England

Greece
35.2%
Draw
18.5%
England
46.2%
372
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
England's Harry Kane pictured on July 14, 2024
Read Next:
"I don't really like it" - Kane hits out at England withdrawals
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Portugal Portugal431010
2 Croatia Croatia42117
3 Poland Poland41124
4 Scotland flag Scotland40131

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Italy Italy431010
2 France France43019
3 Belgium Belgium41124
4 Israel Israel40040

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany431010
2 Netherlands Netherlands41215
3 Hungary Hungary41215
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina40131

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Spain Spain431010
2 Denmark Denmark42117
3 Serbia Serbia41124
4 Switzerland Switzerland40131

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic42117
2 Georgia Georgia42026
3 Albania national flag Albania42026
4 Ukraine Ukraine41124

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Greece Greece440012
2 England flag England43019
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland41033
4 Finland Finland40040

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria531110
2 Norway Norway42117
3 Slovenia Slovenia42117
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan50141

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Turkey Turkey431010
2 Wales flag Wales42208
3 Iceland Iceland41124
4 Montenegro Montenegro40040

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Sweden Sweden431010
2 Slovakia Slovakia431010
3 Estonia Estonia41033
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan40040

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Romania Romania440012
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo43019
3 Cyprus Cyprus41033
4 Lithuania Lithuania40040

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland42117
2 Belarus Belarus41306
3 Bulgaria Bulgaria41215
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg40222

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Macedonia N. Macedonia431010
2 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands51316
3 Armenia Armenia51134
4 Latvia Latvia41124

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar31205
2 San Marino flag San Marino21013
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein30212

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Republic of Moldova Moldova32016
2 Malta flag Malta32016
3 Andorra flag Andorra20020


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!