Euro 2024: Harry Kane stands by England’s performance following a goalless draw against Slovenia.

In a recent interview, England captain Harry Kane acknowledged that the team will need to improve if they want to make a deep run in Euro 2024. However, he defended their performance in a 0-0 draw with Slovenia, which was enough to secure top spot in their group.

Despite the result, some fans reportedly booed the team off the pitch in Cologne. Kane emphasized that their first mission was to come top of the group, which they achieved. He praised the team’s energy and ball control in the game against Slovenia, but admitted that they struggled to find the final pass or finish. Kane believes that all the upcoming games will be difficult and that the team needs to recover and look forward to the next one.

England showed improvement in the second half of the game, especially after making substitutions. Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, and Cole Palmer had an impact on the game and created chances. However, Kane admitted that the team lacked the final quality and finish throughout the match. He praised the substitutes for bringing a different dimension to the game and emphasized the importance of all players contributing when they get minutes on the pitch.

Despite their uninspiring performances, England progressed as group winners and remain unbeaten in the tournament. They have not lost in any of their last nine European Championship matches, dating back to their defeat to Iceland in 2016. Kane hopes that their experience of reaching the final in the previous tournament will help them in the knockout stages. He acknowledged that the upcoming games will be tough and may require extra time or penalties, but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to keep pushing forward.

Defender John Stones understands the disappointment of some fans and pundits with England’s performances so far. He acknowledged that the team wanted to win, but their objective was to top the group, which they achieved. Stones highlighted the two clean sheets out of three matches as a positive and believes that there was improvement in their style of play against Slovenia. He understands the frustration of fans regarding the lack of goals and missed chances but emphasized that the team left everything on the pitch.

Stones, who set a new joint record for England with his 22nd consecutive game at an international tournament, believes that the team is close to clicking and will focus on being harsh with themselves in the coming days.

Overall, both Kane and Stones expressed optimism about England’s chances in the tournament and emphasized the need to keep moving forward and step up when it counts. They believe that the team has the ability to improve and perform at a higher level in the knockout stages.