Micah Richards and Rio Ferdinand have criticized Gareth Southgate’s tactics after England’s first-half performance against Denmark on Thursday.
After Harry Kane had given England the lead by tapping in Kyle Walker’s deflected cross, England allowed Denmark back into the match, with Morten Hjulmand firing in from outside the penalty area.
Both Richards and Ferdinand questioned the England captain’s positioning during the match, with the ex-Manchester United defender claiming that if he was playing he would become frustrated with the Bayern forward due to his lackluster work rate.
‘I would go crazy [at Kane]. I would scream,” Ferdinand told BBC Sport at half-time. ‘I couldn’t allow my centre-forward not to take on the same workload as the other players.
‘I need to see the same workload and intensity [from Kane]. Put pressure on their centre-back like I receive it as an English defender!
Rio Ferdinand (pictured) declared he would be ‘angry with Harry Kane’ if he played in the first half of England’s match against Denmark
Kane (pictured) scored the opening goal for England, but Ferdinand was concerned about his work rate
Ferdinand and Richards also questioned Gareth Southgate’s (pictured) tactics, with England appearing to be too deep
Richards claimed England were sitting too deep and was concerned about them not getting the ball to Harry Kane.
‘It’s not good enough now. I thought against Serbia it was nerves, and sometimes that can happen in a match.
‘They started better today. We must respect Denmark as an opposition. They are really good and know what to do, tactically much better.
‘They’re just too deep, England, from midfield. Trent and Rice in there, way too deep. The back four are also too deep.
‘They can’t get out. They have the same problem as the first match against Serbia.
‘If we switch, Kane will be in so deep that there will be no way out. We have to make substitutions in the second half.
“Watkins needs to step up and drag this game out. At the moment it is too easy for Denmark.’
With England still level with Denmark after 68 minutes, Southgate made the decision to bring on Ollie Watkins for his first appearance at Euro 2024.
Southgate opted to make several changes during the second half, with Kane (right) coming on for Ollie Watkins
Richards (pictured) expressed his concerns about how deep England were against Serbia
Despite being taken off the pitch, Kane scored his 63rd appearance for England and his 64th goal for the Three Lions during the match.
His positioning had been questioned after England’s 1-0 win against Serbia on Sunday after Kane dropped deep again to look for the ball and strengthen England’s midfield defense.
But his service in the final third has also been questioned. In fact, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the England player most likely to pass to him during the match, coming across Kane six times during the match.
Jude Bellingham was England’s second best, passing Kane five times.