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Harry Kane says England’s shock 1-0 defeat a ‘wake up call’ ahead of Euro 2024
Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson gave Iceland the lead early on, and while the hosts struggled at both ends of the pitch, the visitors had the better opportunities to build on their lead.
According to Harry Kane, England’s shocking 1-0 loss to Iceland may serve as a “nice wake-up call” about the magnitude of the challenge that awaits them in Euro 2024.
Although Gareth Southgate’s team is one of the favourites to win the competition in Germany, the players were jeered off in front of a mostly empty stadium on Friday at the Wembley farewell party.
Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson gave Iceland the lead early on, and while the hosts struggled at both ends of the pitch, the visitors had the better opportunities to build on their lead.
When England plays Serbia in their Group C opening on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen, captain Kane understands that there are lessons to be learned.
“Sometimes you need this wake-up call,” he said. “There are areas we need to improve, especially with our pressure.
“The group games are going to be very similar to this. We are going to have to defend well, especially the longer balls, and with the ball we need to be a bit more patient.”
Kane, 30, said despite the defeat there was a lot of justified optimism among England fans that the Euro 2020 finalists could go one better this year.
“Ultimately it is down to us to make sure we get it right on the pitch,” he said.
“This could be a nice wake-up call for everyone to realise it is not going to be as easy as people think. There is a lot of work to do.”
Kane, who scored 44 goals in 45 games in his debut season at Bayern Munich, said he was raring to go.
“Being so close in the last Euros, there is a real hunger to be back. It comes around quick, if I’m honest,” he said.
“We had the World Cup and we are back here again. I feel like we are on the right path. But as we all know as well, it is really difficult to win these tournaments.
“There are a lot of things that you have to do right and prepare right, and you need a bit of luck here and there. Every winner does.
“We have that mindset that we can achieve it. We also know there is a lot of hard work from now until the final in July.”
England’s other opponents in Group C are Denmark and Slovenia.
