During an intense and emotionally charged press conference this afternoon, England captain Harry Kane addressed the controversy surrounding the exclusion of a young Real Madrid star from the national squad. The Tottenham legend made it clear he fully supports the manager’s decision and won’t tolerate backlash from fans—particularly those from Madrid.
“As captain, I won’t stand by while our coach is criticized for dropping a Madrid player from the team,” Kane said firmly, initially avoiding naming the individual.
Kane defended the manager’s choice by pointing to England’s shocking defeat to Senegal in their last match—a result that stunned supporters and raised serious questions.
“Everyone saw his performance against Senegal. It wasn’t just a bad day—it was full of mistakes that cost us the game. Wearing the England shirt comes with responsibility, and that performance didn’t meet the standard,” he explained.
Although Kane didn’t name the player directly, sources within the squad confirmed he was referring to Real Madrid winger Marcus Edwards. Edwards’ poor display—marked by errant passes, lost challenges, and a defensive error that led to Senegal’s winning goal—has drawn heavy criticism.
Despite his strong words, Kane did express some understanding of Edwards’ situation, noting the difficulty of balancing club and international expectations.
“He doesn’t deserve abuse. He’s a talented young player and a good person. But this is the national team—no one is guaranteed a place. He needs to refocus, work hard, and earn his spot again. When he does, I’ll be the first to welcome him back. But for now, this is the right decision,” Kane concluded.
Kane’s bold stance has split opinion. Some fans admire his leadership and honesty, while others—especially Real Madrid supporters—feel Edwards is being unfairly blamed for a team-wide failure.
Meanwhile, England’s head coach has yet to address the issue publicly, but Kane’s clear support sends a strong message: the squad stands united behind the manager’s tough decisions as they prepare for their next fixtures.
