In a twist of fate, England’s captain and Bayern Munich forward, Harry Kane, finds himself in doubt for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League clash against Greece due to injury. The 31-year-old striker, who missed October’s 2-1 loss to the Pirate Ship due to a minor setback, is now facing a late fitness test ahead of the crucial encounter.
Kane recently expressed his frustration at the number of international teammates who have opted out of international duty, particularly after eight players withdrew from Lee Carsley’s squad for the November fixtures. Unfortunately, one of the players called up to replace them, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, has also had to pull out ahead of the match against Greece.
The England captain voiced concerns that clubs are “taking advantage” of the situation, especially with Carsley managing the team for only a few more matches before Thomas Tuchel takes over in the New Year. Initially poised to lead the line for England, recent reports indicate that Kane is nursing an injury, leaving his availability uncertain. According to journalist Sami Mokbel, the team will be sweating on his fitness right up to kick-off.
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Should Kane be sidelined, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins stands ready to step in. The forward is on standby after impressing from the bench in previous encounters against Greece and Finland, contributing critical assists. Should he feature, it would mark his sixth start for the Three Lions.
Another alternative in the attacking line is West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen. As it stands, England sits three points behind Greece in League B Group 2 of the Nations League, and with head-to-head records taking precedence over goal differences, a draw in Athens would mean the Three Lions cannot leapfrog Greece on the final matchday.
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The irony is palpable as Kane, who has consistently refrained from publicly prioritizing club football over his international responsibilities, now deals with an injury at such a critical juncture. The outpouring of responses to Mokbel’s post on social media mirrored this sentiment, with one user lamenting, “He should play. Country over any injury,” as they recalled Kane’s sharp comments directed at teammates who withdrew from the squad.
Eight withdrawals at once is a rarity and raises questions about whether these clubs would have acted similarly had Tuchel already taken charge or had Gareth Southgate remained at the helm. While genuine injuries warrant withdrawals, teams engaged in European competition face an increasingly packed schedule, exacerbated by the expansion of UEFA tournaments.
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Kane is looking ahead to a Bundesliga Christmas break from December 20 to January 11, a time when he will have to watch on as his compatriots navigate four Premier League fixtures and EFL Cup quarter-finals. With significant stakes at play, all eyes will be on the injury update surrounding Kane as the matchday approaches.
