JAMIE CARRAGHER has defended comments he made about Harry Kane after the England star scored twice against Ukraine on Saturday.
The Sky Sports pundit previously wrote about Kane looking exhausted in the first Euro 2020 match against Croatia, arguing the striker was barely involved in the win in his Telegraph column.
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Former Tottenham and England player Graham Roberts took note of the criticism, with Carragher suggesting Kane is not the same player he was in 2018.
Kane has since responded with three goals in two knockout games and looks back to his best in front of goal.
As a result, Roberts questioned Carragher for doubting England’s number nine.
In response Carragher tweeted back: “He hadn’t looked his normal self until that goal vs Germany.
“I never mentioned his lack of goals once but his general play & movement, he was brought off twice so Gareth thought the same.
“I also said without Kane near his best we can’t win it. Spot on analysis as usual!”
In Carragher’s defence, he did tell Sky that Kane would deliver if he got the right service from his team-mates, and the Ukraine match proved that.
Carragher said: “He (Kane) has got to do more himself. That is my problem with it. The onus is always on the other players. Kane needs to do more himself.
‘If Kane is given chances he will score. But he has not created enough for himself.
‘Can England get more out of him? Yes. But what more can Kane do because it is not a one-off game now, it is a bit of a pattern.’
And against Germany and Ukraine Kane did do more by getting into good goalscoring positions, finding himself in plenty of space to pounce on Raheem Sterling’s pass inside five minutes in Rome.
Kane will now be targeting the golden boot as he is just two goals off Cristiano Ronaldo’s leading total of five, as is Sterling.
The Manchester City star always believed his team-mate would deliver when required, and now the pair will be aiming to score the goals to beat Denmark in the Wembley semi-final next week.
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