Kane’s Penalty Request Rejected: Gareth Southgate Confirms Iceland Starter
Gareth Southgate provided some lighthearted moments while addressing England’s win over Bosnia & Herzegovina and their upcoming match against Iceland. The manager revealed he had to politely decline a cheeky request from captain Harry Kane, who desired a more prominent role in the victory.
Kane, returning from a back injury that sidelined him for the final two games of Bayern Munich’s season, entered the fray as a substitute for the last 30 minutes. However, his ambition extended beyond simply contributing to the win. The striker, eager to mark his return with a goal, reportedly requested to come on specifically to take the penalty awarded to England early in the second half.
Gareth Southgate, with a touch of humor, revealed his response to Kane’s audacious request. “Our plan today was half an hour and he’ll start on Friday,” the manager said to Radio 5 Live. “He had the audacity to ask to come on and to score the penalty which was never going to happen!”
This lighthearted exchange not only highlighted Kane’s hunger to score but also Southgate’s trust in young midfielder Cole Palmer, who ultimately converted the penalty to open the scoring for England.
More importantly, Southgate’s comments confirmed Kane’s fitness and his role in the upcoming match against Iceland. “The great thing is we’ve got through the last few days with no new problems,” Southgate reassured fans. “He [Kane] had the audacity to ask, but that’s really important. We needed to get through these first matches to get a clearer picture. The guys rehabbing have done well.”
Southgate went on to praise the team’s overall performance against a determined Bosnian side. “They were dogged, determined,” he said. “Physically, it was a good workout but in the end, a good performance. The scoreline reflected the performance. We had a lot of fresh players to bring in. Once you break that resistance then it starts to come.”
The win over Bosnia served as a valuable opportunity for Southgate to experiment with his squad selection. With several players lacking caps, the manager acknowledged the initial challenges. “A lot of players didn’t have many caps that started so it was going to be a sticky start,” he admitted. “I thought the intensity of the game was good. Winning and clean sheets are good habits to have.”
With Kane confirmed as a starter against Iceland and his hunger to contribute re-emphasized, England fans can expect a more aggressive performance from their captain. Southgate, having navigated Kane’s request with a blend of humor and authority, seems confident heading into the next match. The focus now shifts to Iceland, where England will look to build momentum and solidify their squad selections before the Euros begin.
