Gareth Southgate must drop Harry Kane as England go for Euro 2024 glory vs. Spain

The striker hasn't been in the positions he needs to be to deliver, and it's clear a change is needed

By James Benge Jul 10, 2024 at 7:33 pm ET• 4 min read

If Gareth Southgate wants to end Sunday as the first manager in 58 years to lead England to major silverware then there is one overwhelmingly obvious change he needs to make to his side. 

It is time to drop Harry Kane.

This is not about rewarding substitute Ollie Watkins for his match-winning heroics, the brilliant drive across Bart Verbruggen to seal the greatest win on foreign soil in English footballing history. It need not even be the Aston Villa man who takes his place; Ivan Toney has looked no less sprightly when he has been the one called on from the bench.

It is about what the Golden Boot front-runner and all-time record goalscorer is not offering to England, typified in the brilliant work of his teammates to release Bukayo Saka down the right byline early in the second half. Without time to take a touch or truly assess the situation, the Arsenal man did all that could be asked of a player as the ball flew out of play. Hit the ball towards the penalty spot, just where you would expect your talismanic No. 9 to be on hand to get a shot away. 

Kane was nowhere to be seen. Too often that has been the case for England during these Euros. Against Switzerland, Kieran Trippier and Jude Bellingham crafted a great opening for a near post cross from the left only to discover there was no one to play it to, their skipper having previously been scrapping away in front of his box.