Sports
Kane says ex-England players have a 'responsibility' following Lineker criticism
Harry Kane has responded to Gary Lineker’s criticism of England’s Euro 2024 campaign by saying former national team players have a “responsibility” to consider the impact of their words.
England came in for scrutiny following a 1-1 draw with Denmark in their second Euro 2024 group fixture, with former striker Lineker calling the performance “s***”.
Kane said while he understood pundits had a duty to be honest, he added former players should be aware of the challenges of representing England given the nation’s historic and persistent failures at major tournaments.
Asked specifically about Lineker’s comments, Kane replied: “What ex-players have to realise is that it is very hard not to listen to it now, especially for some players who are not used to it or who are new to the environment.
“I always feel like they have a responsibility. I know they have got to be honest and give their opinion but they also have a responsibility as an ex-England player that a lot of players looked up to. People do care about what they say and people do listen to them.
“Everyone has got their opinion but the bottom line is we have not won anything as a nation for a long, long time and a lot of these players were part of that as well, so they know how tough it is.
“It is not digging anyone out. It is just the reality that they know that it is tough to play in these major tournaments and tough to play for England.
“I would never disrespect any player. All I would say is remember what it is like to wear the shirt and that their words are listened to. You do hear it.
“We all want to win a major tournament. Being as helpful as they can and building the lads up with confidence would be a much better way of going about it.”
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Lineker, 63, scored 48 times in 80 appearances for England between 1984 and 1992. He won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup and was part of the England side that reached the World Cup semi-finals at Italia 90.
Following England’s draw with Denmark, Lineker told the Rest is Football podcast: “I think we have to reflect the mood of the nation. I can’t imagine anyone who is English would have enjoyed that performance because it was lethargic, it was dour. You can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like, but it was s***. ”
Kane scored his first goal of the Euros against Denmark, but admitted he personally had been below par in the opening two games.
“I try and stay off it (seeing and reading media criticism) as much as possible,” he added. “I think it’s almost impossible not to see some stuff nowadays with all the different platforms.
“Me as a player, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and I know when major tournament football is on it’s always going to be heightened, performance is going to be scrutinised. If I’m honest with myself … have I played the best that I know I can? No.
“But I didn’t score in the group stage at the World Cup, I didn’t score in the group stage at the Euros. So from my point of view, it’s a bonus to be one goal ahead. I’d always judge myself first and I know I can play better and I know a lot of players in the team think the same – that we can all play a little bit better. That’s what I do. I don’t panic. I don’t get too high or too low. I’ll keep doing what I do and just go onto the next one.”
Kane is expecting England to improve at Euro 2024 (Stefan Matzke – sampics/Corbis via Getty Images)
Kane was substituted in the second half of England’s draw against Denmark, having missed the conclusion of the German domestic season due to a back injury.
Although there has been concerns over the 30-year-old’s fitness, he insisted he is feeling fresh with no injury concerns.
“I thought the preparation leading up to the tournament was good for me personally,” Kane said. “Even the games in the tournament, the first game, I felt as fit as I have all season. Of course, I know I came off in the second game but that was down to the manager wanting to see (something) different, maybe freshen up the front players especially.
“From my point of view, I’m fit, getting better and better each game and getting fitter. I’ve spoken in previous tournaments about the same thing, about trying to make sure you’re coming into your peak towards the most important part of the tournament, which is the knockouts.
“As always, time will tell. If we get knocked out then a lot of questions will be asked but from my point of view, I think going into this knockout stage (it’s important) you’re feeling 100 per cent and I feel I’m there.”
Gareth Southgate’s side are preparing for their final Group C clash against Slovenia on Tuesday and currently sit top on four points.
Following the Denmark draw, Southgate said England were not at the “physical level” to press high up the pitch.
Kane suggested England’s struggled with pressing came from playing against a back three against both Serbia and Denmark. Slovenia have lined up in a back four in their opening two group stage matches, and the England captain said he hoped his side could produce a more energetic display.
“I think both games playing against the back three caused us a bit of confusion on the pitch,” he said. “We’d prepared before the game. But then I just think there were certain things where we couldn’t quite get the pressure that we wanted and we weren’t 100 per cent sure about when to go and it’s hard.
“I don’t think we were great with the ball which then led to feeling like you’re just running and constantly running. So it was tough to turn that momentum around. I think in the next game, I think it will pose a different threat because of the formation … it’s more likely going to be different from Slovenia. Hopefully we can show a bit more energy and enthusiasm, especially without the ball and I think that will help us with the ball as well.”
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Southgate feels England are too tired to press – is he right?
What we learned from Kane’s punchy performance
Harry Kane walked into the England media room at Blankenhain Castle, won a darts match, sat down, answered questions, took a swig of water and then left.
But the bit in between, where the England captain spent 40 minutes setting the record straight from the camp’s perspective, was unusually illuminating.
It was decided on Sunday morning that Kane would would be the player to speak at the open press conference, part of a wider Football Association strategy when it comes to which voices are heard and at what moment, with Kane being more than happy to take on the responsibility.
The Athletic analyses what he said and what it meant
England’s critics
“The bottom line is we haven’t won anything as a nation for a long, long time and a lot of these players were part of that. They know how tough it is,” Kane said in reference to Lineker’s jibe.
Lineker was not the only pundit to criticise England’s display against Denmark but, as the face of football coverage for the United Kingdom’s national broadcaster, his words carry more significance than most.
Kane, while remaining respectful and putting in multiple caveats, clearly wanted to stick up for the squad following the negativity levelled at them.
His own fitness
“I felt as fit as I have all season. I know I came off in the second game, but that was down to the manager wanting to see something different and freshening up the front players. It is important to go into this knockout stage feeling 100 per cent and I feel I am there.”
Kane was quick to dispel the notion that he is not fully fit, having missed Bayern Munich’s final game of the season with a back injury.
He has looked off the pace in England’s opening two matches at Euro 2024, but sought to reassure supporters that there is no need to be concerned about his fitness levels.
Kane was withdrawn against Denmark (Ralf Ibing – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
Tactical struggles in opening games
“I just think both games playing against the back three caused us a bit of confusion on the pitch. We’d prepared before the game. But then I just think there were certain things where we couldn’t quite get the pressure that we wanted and we weren’t 100 per cent sure about when to go and it’s hard.”
After the Denmark match, Kane said the players didn’t know when they should have been pressing. It was a damning revelation. And he has now added a bit more context to that assessment, noting how it was playing against a back three that disrupted the forward line’s triggers. Playing against Slovenia’s likely back four should ease that problem.
Keeping ‘calm’ and carrying on
“I think we are calm. A lot of us have been here and done it and we’ve given England fans some fantastic times. I know 99 per cent (of fans) are fully behind us. Then after the tournament you can judge us.”
The word ‘calm’ was used by Kane three times in the space of as many answers at his press conferences.
The message coming out of the England camp post-Denmark is that, although the performances have been drab, they are staying relaxed – or trying to. Kane reiterated that message on Sunday, urging supporters to save their final judgement until when the Three Lions’ tournament ends.
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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LeBron James got the last laugh on Sunday night as he sank two free throws in the final 3.9 seconds to lift the Los Angeles Lakers over the Phoenix Suns, 116-114.
James may be in the twilight of his career, but he showed he still had some fight. He was battling with Suns forward Dillon Brooks throughout the night. The two got into multiple skirmishes as the intensity was turned up a notch.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. Brooks was ejected from the game after the foul. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
As the game came down to the wire, Brooks hit a clutch 3-pointer to put the Suns up one point with 12.2 seconds left. James ran through him and knocked him down. Brooks got back up and stuck his chest out to ever-so-gently tap James.
A referee came over to stop the conflict from escalating any further. Brooks was ejected from the game.
“I just like to compete,” James said of going up against Brooks, via ESPN. “He’s going to compete. I’m going to compete. We’re going to get up in each other’s face. Try not to go borderline with it. I don’t really take it there. But we’re just competing and did that almost all the way to the end of the game.”
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Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) react after a turnover during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Suns star Devin Booker supported Brooks’ intensity.
“Yeah, I mean there’s history there,” he said. “I love to see it. People always say everything’s too friendly in the NBA and then Dillon comes around and now it’s too much. So like I said, I’d rather it the other way — that it’d be too much.”
James scored 26 points on 8-of-17 from the field. Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 29 points and six assists. The Lakers improved to 18-7 with the win.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks to shoot over Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Brooks had 18 points in 25 minutes. Booker led the team with 27 points and was 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Phoenix is 14-12 on the year.
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Who’s going to beat them?
Who’s going to stop the unstoppable offense? Who’s going to score on the persistent defense? Who’s going to outwit the coaching genius?
Who can possibly halt the Rams on their thunderous march toward a Super Bowl championship?
After yet another jaw-dropping Sunday afternoon at a raucous SoFi Stadium, the answer was clear.
Nobody.
Nobody can spar with the Rams. Nobody can run with the Rams. Nobody can compete with the Rams.
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Gary Klein breaks down what went right for the Rams in their 41-34 victory over the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
Nobody is talented enough or deep enough or smart enough to keep the Rams from winning their second Super Bowl championship in five years.
Nobody. It’s over. It’s done. The Rams are going to win it all, and before you cry jinx, understand that this is just putting into words what many already are thinking.
The Rams’ second-half domination of the Detroit Lions in a 41-34 win should again make the rest of the league realize that nobody else has a chance.
The Seahawks? Please. The 49ers? No way. The Eagles? They’ve been grounded. The Bears? Is that some kind of a joke?
The Patriots? Not yet. The Broncos? Not yet. The Bills? Not ever.
The Rams trailed by 10 points at one juncture Sunday and then blew the Lions’ doors off in the second half to clinch a playoff berth for the seventh time in nine seasons under Sean McVay, setting them up for the easiest ride in sports.
With a win in Seattle on Thursday night — and, yes, they should beat a team that just barely survived Old Man Rivers — the Rams essentially will clinch the NFC’s top seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
That means they have to win only two games at SoFi to advance to a Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. That means they can win a championship without leaving California, three games played in the sort of perfect climate that gets the best out of their precision attack.
And as Sunday proved once again, they’re good enough to win three essentially home playoff games against anybody.
“I love this team,” McVay said.
There’s a lot to love.
They have an MVP quarterback, the league’s most versatile two-headed running attack, an interior defense that gets stronger under pressure, and the one weapon that no team can match.
They have Puka Nacua, and nobody else does.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is tackled by Detroit cornerback Amik Robertson during the second half Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Is he unbelievable or what? He is Cooper Kupp in his prime, only faster and stronger. He caught a career-high 181 yards’ worth of passes on yet another day when he could not be covered and barely could be tackled.
“He’s unbelievable,” McVay said. “He’s so tough, a couple of times he just drags guys with him … he epitomizes everything we want to be about … he’s like Pac-Man, he just eats up yards and catches.”
Pac-Man? The Rams even score on their old-school references.
In all, it was another Sunday of totally fun football.
They outscored the league’s highest-scoring team 20-0 at one point, they outrushed the league’s toughest backfield 159-70, they racked up 519 total yards against a team once thought destined for a championship.
And they did it with barely a smile. With the exception of Nacua repeatedly banging his fist to his chest — can you blame him? — the Rams are steady and steadfast and just so scary.
”All we want to do is go to work and find a way to be better,” said Matthew Stafford, who likely answered the crowd’s chants by clinching the MVP award with 368 yards and two touchdown passes. “It’s a fun group right now but we understand there’s more out there for us.”
Lots, lots, lots more.
This year a similar column appeared in this space regarding the Dodgers. By the first round of the playoffs, one just knew that they were going to run the table.
The same feeling exists here. The Rams look unrelenting, unfazed, unbeatable.
“Guys just kept competing, staying in the moment,” McVay said.
This moment belongs to them. One knew it Sunday by the end of the first half, which featured a Stafford interception and a struggling secondary and Jared Goff’s vengeful greatness and a 10-point Lions lead.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes in the first half of a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Then the Rams drove the ball nearly half of the field in 30 seconds in a push featuring Stafford and Nacua at their best. Stafford connected with Nacua on a brilliant 37-yard pass in the final moments that led to a Harrison Mevis 37-yard field goal to close the gap to seven.
“Right before that I told the guys, ‘Let’s go steal three,’” Stafford said.
Turns out, they stole a game.
“One of the key and critical sequences,” McVay said of that late first-half hammer, which led to a dazzling third quarter that finished the flustered Lions.
“We never panic,” Blake Corum said. “Because we know … what we have to bring to the table.”
What they’ve increasingly been bringing is a running attack that perfectly complements the awesome passing attack, as evidenced Sunday by Corum and Kyren Williams combining for 149 yards and three touchdowns.
The Lions’ more vaunted backfield of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery? Seventy yards and one score.
“We push each other to the limit,” Corum said of Williams.
Rams running back Kyren Williams stiff-arms Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett II during the first half Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Potentially disturbing was how one noted Ram may have pushed past his limits, as receiver Davante Adams limped off the field early in the fourth quarter after apparently reinjuring his troublesome hamstring.
To lose him for the playoffs would be devastating, as he frees up space for Nacua and is almost an automatic touchdown from the five-yard line and closer.
Then again he’ll have a month to heal. And the Rams still have a bruising array of tight ends led Sunday by the touchdown-hot Colby Parkinson, who caught 75 yards’ worth of passes and two scores, including one inexplicable touchdown in which he clearly was down at the one-yard line.
The Rams got lucky there. But even if the right call was made, they would have scored on the next couple of plays. The way the Rams attacked, they could have been scoring all night.
“You knew that it was going to be that kind of game where there was some good back-and-forth,” McVay said. “You needed to be able to know that points were going to be really important for us, and our guys delivered in a big way.”
Just wait. By the time this season is done, McVay’s guys will have delivered a trophy representing something much bigger.
It rhymes with Strombardi.
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Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes will be out for the rest of the season as he suffered a torn ACL on Sunday in a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, according to multiple reports.
Mahomes’ knee buckled while he was scrambling and as he was getting hit by Chargers defensive end Da’Shawn Hand. He was helped off the field and he limped to the locker room. An MRI reportedly confirmed the extent of the damage.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes grabs his knee after being injured during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
The quarterback wrote a message to fans as word of his injury trickled out.
“Don’t know why this had to happen,” Mahomes wrote on X. “And not going to lie (it) hurts. But all we can do now is Trust in God and attack every single day over and over again. Thank you Chiefs kingdom for always supporting me and for everyone who has reached out and sent prayers. I Will be back stronger than ever.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid offered a gloomy outlook for Mahomes as he spoke to reporters following the loss.
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Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Odafe Oweh (98) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)
“… It didn’t look good,” Reid said when asked whether he knew if Mahomes’ injury was serious. “I mean you guys saw it. We’ll just see where it goes.”
The loss to the Chargers also meant the Chiefs will not be making the postseason. Kansas City made it to the AFC Championship each season since 2018. They made it to the Super Bowl in each of the last three seasons, winning two titles in that span.
Mahomes will finish the season with 3,398 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes.
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Kansas City is 6-8 on the year.
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