England’s recent performances have been the talk of the town, with the Three Lions failing to live up to expectations. Despite qualifying for the knockout stage of the European Championship with a 0-0 draw against Slovenia, winning Group C, their performance has been lackluster.

Although their dominant possession managed them just four shots on target and a Bukayo Saka goal was disallowed due to a Phil Foden offside, the criticism has been intense, with former players and experts questioning the team’s ability to deliver under pressure.

And, evidently, this hasn’t gone down well with English striker Harry Kane, who questioned former English players for slamming their own team. Kane’s words were a direct reply to ex-England star Gary Lineker who had questioned the team’s confidence heading into the clash against Slovenia. While some fans were on board with the striker, former England defender Rio Ferdinand had his say on the topic.

Addressing the issue, Rio Ferdinand stated, “Yes, we have been in your shoes; yes, we react to comments when people step over the line, but don’t be expecting cheerleading vibes when performances have been poor! See you tomorrow in Cologne!”

Rio Ferdinand’s opinion holds a little more weight following England’s poor showing against Slovenia. Gareth Southgate’s side had a rough night at work, as they failed to make the most of their chances and ended up playing a goalless draw against their opponents. While the team might have managed to move to the knockout stage, it will be interesting to see how the team bounces back from their poor string of performances.

Harry Kane speaks out against criticism of England

The English striker commented on the criticism against the team during the pre-match conference before the Slovenian clash. Kane addressed the comments made by Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, as he claimed former players should avoid taking a dig at their home side.

Harry Kane stated, “I always feel like [former players and pundits] have a responsibility. I know they’ve got to be honest and give their opinion, but also they have a responsibility of being an ex-England player. The bottom line is, we haven’t won anything as a nation for a long, long time. And, you know, a lot of these ex-players were part of that as well… they do know that it’s tough to play in these major tournaments. It’s tough to play for England.”

While Kane may not have liked what the ex-players had to say, both Shearer and Lineker have doubled down on their views since then and have demanded England play like what fans expect from them. What are your thoughts on the whole drama? Sound off in the comments below.