- Fans boo Kevin Kilbane over comments directed at England’s Bukayo Saka
- The former international leaves the Arsenal man out of his top Euros XI
- click here to follow the Mail Sport Euro 2024 WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and updates from Germany
Fans have attacked former Republic of Ireland winger Kevin Kilbane following his comments about Bukayo Saka ahead of Euro 2024.
Kilbane was part of the TSN Sports studio team gave a preview of the tournament, which starts next, and worked with fellow expert Stephen Caldwell to put together a draft best XI of the players during the final.
Kilbane’s squad included some of the big players of the summer, including Kylian Mbappe, Declan Rice and Bruno Fernandes, but the ex-Sunderland man was not too concerned about missing Arsenal star Saka.
When Caldwell included him in his XI, Kilbane claimed he would not pick the 22-year-old due to his tendency to play with minor injuries. Instead he chose Frenchman Antoine Griezmann.
Saying to his fellow TSN Sports expert: ‘[Saka is] not in the same class as [Antoine] Griezmann [in terms of] his influence on the side.
Kevin Kilbane (right) decided not to select England’s Bukayo Saka in his best team at the European Championship
Kilbane accused Saka of making the most of injuries and then being fit for the next match
‘Also be careful during the European Championship with Saka. [He’ll be] with twenty minutes to go and then hesitating for the next match and then [he’ll] Fix it.’
Saka has attracted some criticism on social media in the past for missing matches due to minor injuries, but fans have been quick to dismiss Kilbane’s claims online.
‘This is a joke. TV personalities these days are trying to be more like social media fans. What happened to analyze the game properly?’ One fan railed against X.
Others blamed the broadcaster, saying: “Ridiculous of TSN here.”
While another read: ‘Absolutely DISGUSTING from @TSN_Sports and everyone involved.’
There were some who even suggested that Saka is now receiving the same kind of unnecessary treatment that was previously aimed at a former England team-mate.
The former Republic of Ireland star was criticized by fans on social media for his comments
Fans took to social media to blast Kilbane and the comments he made on TSN Sports
One supporter wrote: ‘Saka is the new Sterling. They’re going to hate him for no reason.”
Saka has not played for England since the win over Scotland last September and missed March’s international friendlies with an undisclosed injury.
Despite missing those games, the attacker still managed to play 47 times for Arsenal last season and score twenty goals.
He was included in Gareth Southgate’s final squad for the final in Germany, where he is expected to be a key player for England.